■"^      '.,        ■"  'k 


^  V  + 


V      N    ^'  ^  *N 


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ESTES  &  LAU2IAT, 

HEW  AND  OLD  BOOKS, 

BOSTON. 


(L  *-  d 


LETTERS 


OF    THE    LATE 


EDWARD  BULWER 

LORD    LYTTON, 

TO     HIS    WIFE. 


Wiik  Extracts  from  her  MSS.  "  Autobiography,'' 
and  other  Documents. 


PUBLISHED  IN  VINDICATION  OF  HER  MEMORY. 

BY 

LOUISA    DEVEY, 

EXECUTRIX  TO  THE  DOWAGER  LADY   LYTTON. 


NEW      YORK: 

G,    JV,    Dillingham,   Publisher^ 

Successor  to  G.  AV.  Carleton  &  Co. 

MDCCCLXXXIX. 


Copyright,  1889, 

BY 

Geo.  a.  Tread wEix. 


PR 


U^.  0  / 


A3 


ii^] 


INTRODUCTORY. 


First    Meeting  of  Miss    Wheeler  with   Mr.    Edward 

BuLWER,    at    Miss    Benger's,    in     October,    1825. 

Abridged  from  the  '' Autol)iography." 

And  now  was  about  to  dawn  the  most  fatal  era  of  my 
life,  I  had  been  reading  out  to  my  dear  grand  uncle  (Gen- 
eral Sir  John  Doyle)  a  book  that  all  the  M'orld  was  wild 
about —  Vivian  Grey.  It  is  just  out,  and  no  one  knew  who 
had  written  it.  I  was  quite  hoarse  from  reading  aloud  so 
long,  and  had  a  cold  besides. 

When  the  carriage  was  announced,  my  uncle  said,  ''My 
child,  you  must  be  mad  to  think  of  going  out  with  such  a 
cold." 

"Oh  no,  my  furs — or  rather  yours,  for  I'll  take  one  of 
your  Turkish  iDclisses — will  defy  both  fog  and  frost ;  and  my 
poor  dear  Miss  Benger  would  never  forgive  me  if  I  did  not 
go,  as  I  have  promised  to  take  some  people  home  for  her." 
And  so  I  went.  As  usual,  dear  Miss  Benger  was  all  kind- 
ness ;  and  in  honour  of  my  cold,  she  placed  me  on  a  sofa 
near  the  fire.  Then  Miss  Landon  arrived,  and  she  looked 
remarkably  well.  She  had  a  sweetly-pretty  bin sh-rose  com- 
plexion :  her  forhead,  eyebrows,  eyes,  and  eyelashes  were 
beautiful ;  the  mouth  not  bad  ;  the  defaulter  was  the  nose, 
being  one  of  the  most  homoeopathic  ignoble  snubs  that  ever 
attempted  to  do  duty  for  that  feature.  Her  hands,  feet, 
ankles  were  also  very  pretty,  and  her  figure  so  light  and 
petite  that  its  flatness  and  angularity  were  almost  unobserved. 
She  flung  herself  at  my  feet  in  her  usual  theatrical  way, 
with  a  tirade  about  its  not  being  "  idolatry  to  kneel  !" 
while  poor  Miss  Landon  was  still  hurling  her  avalanches  of 
flattery  on  my  devoted  head,  there  was  a  slight  commotion 
and  a  sudden  cessation  of  voices  at  the  other  end  of  the 
room,  and  Miss  Benger  said  to  me,  Sotto  Voce, — 

'*  Oh  !  hero  is  tliat  odd,  rich  old  woman,  Mrs.  Bulwer 
Lytton,  and  her  son — her  favourite.  He  is  very  clever,  they 
say  ;  his  was  the  prize  poem  this  year  at  Cambridge.  I 
must  introduce  you  to  them.'* 

Diil 


iv  Introductory. 

"  Oil  no,  pray  don't,  on  any  account,"  I  said  as  Miss 
Boiit;cr  hurried  away  to  meet  the  new  arrivals.  As  she  did 
so,  stopping  at  the  door  to  shako  hands  with  them,  I  had 
time  to  take  an  inventory  of  both,  and  both  were  new  and 
curious  in  their  way.  \^Thc  description  of  Mrs.  Bulivcr  is 
too  long  to  insert. '\ 

It  is  proverbial,  Qne  Us  extremes  se  touchent  and  the 
adage  was  certainly  not  belied  in  the  present  instance  ;  for 
if  this  lady  was  the  incarnation  of  the  dowdy  and  the  out- 
oC-fashion,  her  sou  upon  whom  she  leant  was  altogether 
her  antipodes — in  modes  &  fashions  considerably  in 
advance  of  their  age.  He  had  just  returned  from  Paris, 
and  was  resplendent  with  French  polish — as  far  as  boots 
wont.  His  cobweb  cambric  shirt-front  was  a  triumph  of 
lace  and  embroidery,  a  comljination  never  seen  in  this 
country  till  six  or  seven  years  later  (except  on  babies' 
frocks)  studs,  too,  except  in  racing  stables,  w^re  then 
11071  est ;  but  a  perfect  galaxy  glittered  down  the  centre  of 
this  fairy-like  lingerie.  His  hair,  which  was  really  golden 
and  abundant,  he  wore  literally  in  long  ringlets  that 
almost  reached  his  shoulders.  He  was  unniistakably 
gentleman-like  looking.  Poor  D'Orsay's  linen  gauntlets 
had  not  yet  burst  upon  the  London  world  ;  but  Mr.  Lytton 
B  ilwer  had  three  inches  of  cambric  encircling  his  coat 
cuffs,,  and  fastened  with  jewelled  sleeve-links.  And 
although  it  wanted  full  five  years  till  every  man  in  society 
was  caned,  he  also  dangled  from  his  ungloved  and  glitter- 
ing right  hand  a  somewhat  gorgeously  jewel-headed  ebony 
cane  ;  and  the  dangling  was  of  the  scientific  kind,  evi- 
dently ''learnt,  marked,  and  inwardly  digested."  Miss 
Landon  and  I,  thus  taken  unawares,  both  laughed  at  the 
strange  tableau  of  contrast  at  the  door,  as  I  exclaimed — 

"  Sir  Plume,  of  amber  snuff-box  justly  vain  ; 
And  the  nice  conduct  of  a  clouded  cain." 

The  quotation  was  as  involuntary  as  the  laugh. 

Oh,  Nemesis  !  I  little  dreamt  with  what  a  ruinous 
usury  of  tears,  you  would  make  me  me  pay  that  laugh 
through  all  my  life  ! 

While  Mrs.  Bulw^er  Lytton  and  her  son  were  still  at 
the  other  end  of  the  room,  I  heard  Miss  Spence's  little 
nibbling  sotto  voce  over  my  shoulder,  "  Oh  !  my  dear," 
(or  "Meddear,"  as  she  pronounced  it),  "don't  let  Miss 
Benger  introduce  you  to  that  old  Mrs.  Bulwer  Lytton,  for 


Introductory,  v 

I  see  liev  son  has  uever  taken  his  eyes  off  you  ;  and  she  has 
beliavcd  in  the  meanest  manner  to  me  about  my  book  ;  so 
differently  to  Lady  Caroline,'^  etc. 

While  Miss  Landon  and  I  were  still  hiugliing  at  poor 
Miss  Spcnce's  latest  contribution  to  Calamities  of  Authors, 
Miss  lienger  made  her  way  back  to  us,  and  said  to  me, 
*'  You  must  let  me  introduce  yon  to  Mrs.  Bulwer  Lytton, 
she  has  asked  me  so  particularly  twice  to  do  so,  as  she  has 
a  party  to-morrow  evening,  and  wants  to  ask  you." 

"  Oh,  no  !  pray  on  no  account,  I  would  so  much  rather 
not,  and  indeed  my  cold  is  so  bad  I  ought  to  stay  in  bed." 

"Nay,  to  please  her,  I  am  sure  you  luill,  like  a  dear, 
kind  unselfish  soul,  as  I  know  you  are  ;  and  if  you  ivill 
come  this  once  to  please  me,  I  will  never  again  ask  you  to 
do  anything  you  don't  .like,"  per^^isted  Miss  Benger  ; 
"besides,"  added  she,  "do  you  know  you  have  made  a 
desperate  conquest  of  the  young  man  ;  and  he  is  so  clever  ; 
and  tliough  a  younger  sou,  I  dare  say  he  will  be  a  good 
imrti,  as  I  believe  his  other  brothers  are  provided  for,  and 
he,  they  say,  is  the  old  lady's  favourite."  "  Very  likely,^' 
I  stiid,"  hwt  partis,  as  you  may  have  perceived,  are  nothing 
to  me.  I  have,  up  to  the  present  time  (and  I  am  just 
verging  on  the  superannuation  of  three-and-twcnty), 
escaped  all  iiartis.  My  uncle  says  if  I  go  on  I  shall  be  an 
old  maid.  1  tell  him  yes  ;  my  vocation  is  to  be  a  sensible 
woman." 

"  Oh  !  there  they  are  both  looking  at  us  ;  you  really 
must  let  me  introduce  you  to  them  ;  for  as  they  know  I 
have  asked  you  to  do  so  and  that  I  am  speaking  to  you,  you 
cannot  refuse  without  being  markedly  rude,  which  I  know 
you  never  wish  to  be." 

"  But  I  really  feel  so  ill,  and  so  stupid,  and  there  don't 
appear  to  be  much  inspn-ation  in  them  ;  and  what  on  earth 
can  I  talk  to  them  about?"  "Why,  taste,  Shakespear, 
and  the  musical  glasses  ;  and  you,  who  are  so  fond  of  poetry, 
Avill  be  quite  at  home,  as  the  young  man's  was  the  prize 
poem  at  Cambridge  this  year,  and  is  really  verv  good,  I 
hear." 

"  Of  course  all  prize  poems  are.  What  was  the 
subject?" 

"I  forgot,  but  you  must  ask  him  ;  that  will  be  a  very 
good  opening." 

"  That  is  only  for  the  Alma,  but  what  on  earth  shall  I 


vi  Introductory. 

do  with  the  Mater,  who  looks  truly  formidable  ?  unless  I 
ask  her  if  she  has  been  sitting  for  the  family  picture  as  Mrs. 
Primrose,  after  that  worthy  matron  had  asked  the  limner 
to  jnit  in  as  many  jewels  as  he  could  for  nothing  ?" 

"  2fec]iante,"  said  Miss  Benger,  as  she  went  back  to  her 
other  guests,  "  how  do  you  know  but  what  you  are  ridicul- 
ing your  Mother-in-law  ?" 

"  I  hope  not,"  I  replied. 

Seeing  Miss  Benger  now  retracing  her  way  with  the 
mother  and  son  in  l)cr  wake,  I  had  nothing  for  it  but  to 
resign  myself  to  my  fate  ;  and  as  she  approached,  stood  up 
lo  undergo  the  ordeal  of  jjresentation  ;  and  Mrs.  Bulwer 
Lytton  tt)ld  me  slie  was  "  at  home  "  on  the  following  even- 
ing, and  should  be  vast!}',  or,  as  she  always  pronounced  it, 
**  vaustly,"  happy  if  I  would  do  her  the  honour  of  coming 
with  Miss  Benger,  adding,  as  soon  as  I  had  conditionally 
accepted  her  invitation,  "if  my  cold  was  not  worse." 
and  saying,  "  \n-dy,  my  dear  madam,  be  seated  ;  though 
I'm  sure  you  look  so  vawstly  well,  no  one  could  suppose 
you  were  labouring  under  any  sort  of  indisposition." 

Mrs.  Bulwer  Lytton  now  passed  on,  and  left  her  son 
standing  before  me,  evidently  bent  upon  taking  high  degrees 
as  a  conversationalist,  and  carrying  my  wonder  and,  of 
course,  admiration  by  storm.  His  first  essay,  however,  was 
a  covp  manque,  owing  to  the  fulsomeucss  of  his  compli- 
ments, which  were  quite  in  keeping  with  the  foppery  of 
his  dress.  Finding  me  flattery  proof,  he  glided  into  some- 
thing like  rational  conversation,  and  toned  down  his 
fiatical  manner  ;  so  that  I  began  to  think  that,  despite  his 
souffle  surface,  there  was  something  in  him;  but  not 
e'vugh  to  make  me  wish  to  meet  him  again  so  as  to  ascertain 
thi  fact ;  and  it  was  a  relief  to  me  when  a  telegraphic  look 
from  Iiis  mother  summoned  hmi  to  her  side  at  the  other  end 
of  the  room.  Very  soon  afterwards  the  carriage  was 
announced.  No  sooner  had  I  reached  the  drawing  room 
door  than  Mr.  Lytton  Bulwer  darted  across  the  room,  to 
offer  me  his  arm  to  take  me  down-stairs,  and  packed  me  up 
as  carefully  as  if  I  really  had  been  something  of  value. 

"What  splendid  sable  !"  he  exclaimed,  as  he  inducted 
me  into   the  Persian-green  Turkish    Pelisse.     "  Yes,  is  it 
not  ?  as  it  is  oiily  borrowed  finery  I  may  extol  it ;  it  is  one 
of  two  that  the  Grand  Vizier  gave  my  uncle,  and  scandal 
ous  to  say,  they  have  both  been  left  tossing  about  for  years 


Editor  s  Preface.  vH 

hanging  up  in  the  servants'  hall  till  I  took  possestion  of 
this  one.  The  moth  got  into  the  large  hanging  sleeve  of 
the  other,  and  the  saljle  must  be  magnificent  as  Poland 
asked  £250  to  replace  it  with  the  same  tail  sable  as  the 
rest." 

The  night  was  raining;  and  I  begged  of  him  not  to 
come  out,  but  he  would  put  me  into  the  carriage,  and 
regardless  of  the  little  cataracts  that  were  falling  from  tlie 
servant's  umbrella,  still  stood,  hoping  that  I  would  honour 
his  mother  on  the  following  evening. 


EDITORS    PREFACE. 


For  printing  the  following  letters  I  fear  I  may  incur 
some  blame  from  those  who  consider  the  publication  of 
such  private  correspondence  to  be  generally  indiscreet. 

I  must  doubtless  be  prepared  for  such  animadversion, 
but  trust  little  explanation  will,  if  it  does  not  entirely  silence 
the  censure  I  should  regret,  at  any  rate  show  that  no  other 
course  was  open  to  me. 

If  tlie  intention  were  simply  to  satisfy  a  morbid  curiosity, 
I  should  certainly  have  withheld  these  letters  from  the  pub- 
lic, although  many  biographies  would  have  been  left 
singularly  incomplete  from  an  undue  exercise  of  restraint : 
as  an  example  may  be  mentioned  the  case  of  Keats,  where 
it  is  doubtful  whether  his  letters  to  Fanny  Brawne  have  not 
afforded  a  better  clue  to  his  character  than  could  possibly 
have  been  gathered  from  other  sources. 

To  the  literary  critic  I  would  at  the  outset  explain  that 
I  lay  no  claim  to  either  stylistic  skill  or  indeed  to  the 
impartiality  that  an  Editor,  pure  and  simple,  is  usually 
expected  to  show. 

The  former  short  coming  is,  I  think,  of  small  import- 
ance in  a  book  of  this  nature  ;  as  regards  the  latter,  I  am 
rather  in  the  position  of  an  advocate  than  an  impartial 
judge  :  and  in  loyalty  to  my  esteemed  and  much  valued 
friend,  I  feel  bound  to  show  in  the  strongest  possible  light 
what  is  the  naked  truth. 


viii  Ediioj-s  Preface. 

During  the  last  years  of  the  life  of  the  late  l^owager 
Lady  Lytton,  I  had  in  conversation  frequently  noted  her 
extreme  anxiety  that  these  letters,  with  other  papers  she 
had  carefully  preserved,  should  on  some  fitting  occasion  be 
us?d  for  clearing  her  memory  from  the  harsh  judgmrnt; 
Avhich  had  been  pronounced  and  circulated  to  her  disparage- 
ment. 

With  this  object  she  left  to  me  by  will  all  her  papers, 
including  these  letters,  an  incomplete  "Autobiography," 
and  another  MS.  of  autobiographic  character,  called 
''Nemesis;"  and  she  Avas  so  nervously  anxious  that  her 
intention  should  not  through  any  inadvertence  be  frustrated 
that  she  directed  that  they  should  not  by  reason  of  any 
pretext  "  however  plausible  and  apparently  truthful,"  be 
permitted  to  pass  into  the  hands  of  any  member  of  certain 
families  she  named. 

My  first  intention  was  to  delay  this  publication  for  some 
years  ;  but  I  am  coinpelled  to  hasten  my  action  in  conse- 
quence of  the  recent  appearance  of  the  "  Biogi-aphy  of 
Edward  Lord  Lytton,"  for,  although  I  might  not  have 
considered  it  incumbent  on  me  to  correct  inaccuracies  so 
far  as  the  late  Lord  alone  was  concerned,  yet  in  the  unjust 
notices  of  Lady  Lytton  I  feel  that  delay  would  be  preju- 
dicial to  the  very  object  of  my  trust  and  the  faithful  dis- 
charge of  a  duty  I  had  unreservedly  accepted. 

Of  course  I  do  not  disguise  from  myself  the  fact  that 
this  cannot  be  faii'ly  curried  out  without  disillusioning  the 
public  on  many  points  where  they  have  been  misled  through 
generous  feeling  to  a  favourite  author,  and  by  having 
recently  had  presented  to  them  as  a  true  portrait  what  is 
really  but  a  fancy  picture,  sketched  jointly  by  father  and 
son  with  undoubted  artistic  skill,  but  lacking  in  vrcd  sem- 
blance. This  I  cannot  hel[),  but  I  rather  regret  that  it  will 
shake  our  faith  in  Biographies  generally,  when  written 
under  like  conditions,  where  filial  piety  or  friendly  par- 
tisanship accept  materials  that  do  or  reject  materials  that 
do  not  accord  with  a  fixed  purpose. 

This,  however,  will  be  more  clearly  seen  by  any  reader 
vlio  carefully  compares  the  "  Biography  "  with  this  most 
necessary  supplement  ;  nor  can  its  author  offer  any  reason- 
able objection  to  such  assistance,  for  which  he  uninten- 
tionally anticipates  the  value  when  he  whites,  that  "  to 
form  an  impartial  judgment  of  his  father's  character,  his 


Editor  s  Preface.  ix 

oiun  Letters  will  now  enable  all  candid  persons  to  judge  for 
themselves,"  etc.,  etc. 

Thus,  I  only  add  to  their  opportunities  for  forming  an 
unbiassed  judgment,  from  a  more  extended  acquaintance 
with  what  he  considers  the  "only  authentic  records,"*  this 
plan  has  also  another  special  advantage,  for,  as  he  adds 
that  he  does  not  wish  to  "  sit  in  judgment  "  on  his  parents, 
it  will  relieve  him  from  an  unenviable  task,  and  leave  him 
to  reconcile  this  homage  to  a  worthy  sentiment,  with  the 
well-known  circumstance  of  his  having,  years  ago,  {sepa- 
rated himself  from  the  mother,  and  identified  all  his  inter- 
est with  the  father — indeed  it  will  be  remarked  how  the 
references  to  his  parents  genei-ally,  although  shaped  to 
plausibility  and  priority,  plainly  indicate  that  it  is  only  by 
constrained  effort  that  the  exaltation  of  one  is  not  still 
more  forcibly  contrasted  with  a  more  pronounced  dis- 
paragement of  the  other. 

The  reader  of  the  "Biography"  will  remark  how  the 
opening  chapteis  elaborate,  at  tedious  length,  the  ancestral 
glories  of  the  Robinsons,  and  are  followed  by  uninteresting 
recitals  from  unfinished  works;  then  comes  the  real  bio- 
graphical work,  interspersed  with  a  judicious  selection  from 
Letters,  which  help  fill  in  the  fancy  sketch,  already  care- 
fully outlined  by  the  autobiographer  over  the  more  danger- 
ous period  of  ''  The  Life,"  where  the  least  mistake  would 
have  been  fatal,  and  where  the  talent  of  the  novelist  is 
exhibited  in  the  congenial  field  of  fiction  ;  for,  although 
his  work  was  left  unfinished,  it  could  readily  be  completed 
without  risk,  by  aid  of  the  well-assorted  materials  left, 
with  directions  for  their  use,  in  conformity  with  the  inten- 
tion indicated. 

The  letters  now  offered  for  perusal  afford  probably  the 
best  assistance  for  restoring  a  fair  and  natural  conception 
of  the  cliaracfcers,  both  of  Lord  Lytton  and  his  wife  ;  these 
l('ttei\s  Avere  ai)parently  written  without  any  secondary 
object — except  tliose  of  latter  date,  where  we  remark  the  old 
talent  for  interspeising  subjects  of  j^ersonal  grievance  with 
general  ones,  thus  preventing  their  use  by  adopting  a  tone 
of  injury  and  form  of  complaint,  rather  than  of  excuse. 
It  needs  no  special  direction  to  show  how  Lord  Lytton  was 
always  influenced  by  an  overwhelming  selfishness  in  every 

*  Vide  "Biography,"  Vol.  ii.,  p.  152. 


X  Ediiu7''s  Preface. 

thou  gilt  and  action,  by  a  morbid  craving  for  notoriet}-,  and 
by  the  desire  to  be  marked  under  every  condition  he 
thought  fit  to  accept,  and  in  every  attitude  he  assumed. 

It.  has  already  been  remarked  that  Mr.  lUilwer's  letters 
to  Miss  Wheeler  exhaust  tlie  whole  vocabuiary  of  amatory 
declamation  ;  but  their  want  of  reticence  and  dignity  too 
c'early  betray  a  sensual  abondonment  to  what  she  called  th(! 
"love  of  a  i3asliaw,"*  not  concealed  by  the  affected  but 
ponderous  philandering  of  his  phiyfal  corresiiondence 
under  the  names  of  "■  Puppy"  and  *'  Poodle."  His  inten- 
tions of  purchasing  a  seat  in  Parliament  arc  explained  with 
amusing  cynicism  ;  of  his  great  talent  for  public  speaking 
he  feels  not  the  least  doubt  ;  and  with  a  prescience, 
apparently  assisted  by  occult  enquiry,  he  foretells  the  great 
I);irt  he  will  play  in  the  House,  which  shall  astound  all 
England  for  a  bohlness  uneqali.ed  since  the  days  of  Pitt, 
*' the  Arch-cheat  of  the  Country."  f  Not  that  even  this 
splendid  position  was  valued  for  working  any  great  public 
good  ;  for  although  he  would  advocate  all  those  liberal 
jirinciples  with  which  he  professed  to  have  been  associated 
from  his  earliest  years,  he  confessedly  aims  only  at  fower, 
considering  that  "  in  politics,  like  whist,  tricks  lire  more 
certain  than  honours, "|  and  avows  his  intention  of  playing 
for  the  first  and  trusting  to  chance  for  the  latter,  winding 
up,  in  characteristic  style,  by  moralizing  upon  how  he 
despised  what  he  would  take  so  much  trouble  to  win. 
Perhaps  a  like  feeling  may  account  for  his  anxiety  to  secure 
a  succession  to  one  of  the  baronetcies  in  the  Doyle  family, 
for  which  he  desired  to  obtain  Miss  Wheeler's  assistance 
and  the  requisite  interest  with  the  Government.  Failing 
to  obtain  this,  other  influences  were  set  to  work,  which  will, 
no  doubt,  contrast  oddly  with  the  information  we  may 
expect  to  obtain  in  the  latter  Volumes  of  the  "  Biogiapiiy  " 
as  to  how  this  and  other  titles  were  pressed  for  his  reluctant 
acceptance.  His  want  of  disinterestedness  was,  however, 
no  less  marked  than  than  his  want  of  religious  feeling, 
shown  in  his  refusal  to  be  influenced  by  or  submit  to  any 
unseen  power,  and  emphasized  by  the  expression  of 
unbounded  self-reliance,  and  a  refusal  to  "accept  any 
other  judgment  than  his  own."§ 

■   *  See  Letter  C  XXVIII.  f  See  Letter  LXVI.  XlUd. 

S  See  Letters  XXXIV  and  CCLXXXV. 


Editor  s  Preface.  xi 

His  ungenerous  criticism  of  others,  his  intolerance  of 
any  assumed  rival,  make  him  call  Walter  Scott  the  "  Great 
Fidcllestick/'*  and  express  a  liope  that  he  "  may  live  long 
enough  to  see  justice  done  to  the  "  Arcli-quack  ";  ho  dis- 
claims also,  as  a  disgrace,  heing  considered  a  friend  of 
Byron's,  f 

Of  morose  and  violent  temper  ;  accepting  a  credit  for 
generosity  that  was  chea[)ly  and  conveniently  earned  by  a 
reckless  extravagance  for  all  that  concerned  personal 
adornment  or  self-gratification,  but  balanced  by  a  nice 
calculation  whenever  other  disbursements  were  in  consid- 
eration ;  frightened  at  the  least  ailment ;  sensitive  of  con- 
tradiction or  adverse  opinion,  he  was  the  dandy  of  the 
Great  Georgian  period  ;  a  "  man  about  town,"  as  it  was 
understood  in  those  days,  but  with  a  rose-water  affectation 
in  substitution  for  virility  that  in  some  degree  atoned  for 
its  misdeeds,  for  Bulwer  was  hardly  a  representative  Corin- 
thian of  the  "  Tom  and  Jerry  "  school,  but  rather  a  would- 
be  Rochester  or  Buckingham  in  a  travestie  of  the  Restora- 
tion. 

It  is  remarkable  how  the  ''  Biography  "  works  to  one 
point  in  portraying  a  character  always  so  artificial,  but  I 
have  avoided  any  risk  of  misdirection  by  giving  the  follow- 
ing Letters  without  abbreviation  or  omission — except  in 
cases  of  special  triviality  (twenty  letters  of  this  description 
being  reserved),  so  that  a  just  estimate  may  be  formed 
where  he  had  the  smallest  object  for  disguise. 

In  some  res|)ects  we  may  remark  many  points  of  simi- 
larity between  Byron  and  Bulwer  ;  both  are  best^  known  in 
masquerade,  but  Bulwer  had,  perhaps,  the  greater  power 
of  adaptability  for  change.  The  "real  Lord  Byron"  dif- 
fered widely  from  the  Byron  as  he  chose  to  be  known  to 
others,  but  tlie  characters  were  fixed  ;  the  real  Bulwer, 
however,  needs  to  be  contrasted  with  many  other  Bulwers 
and  there  will  be  inevitable  risk  of  disagreement,  through 
portraitures  varied  by  his  multifold  transformations. 
J>oth  were  impressed  with  a  self-consciousness  that 
belonged  rather  to  parvenous ;  there  was,  however,  this 
difference, — Byron  retired  from  the  English  world  in  dis- 
gust, and  with  an  affected  disdain  that  did  not  prevent  his 
publishing    his    private     thoughts    through     ''  Domestic 

•  See  Letter  CVI.  +  See  Letter  CXLVI. 


xii  Editor  s  Preface. 

Pieces";  Bnlwer  had  no  such  thoiight  of  retirement,  bnfc 
while  reticent  of  his  own  domestic  relations,  and  only 
dreading  ridicule,  he  persisted  perfas  et  ncfas  to  turn  lo 
advantage  every  opportunity  that  should  present  itself  for 
personal  advancement. 

He  left  no  stone  unturned  to  procure  the  baronetcy, 
which  shouhl  reward  a  well-timed  political  pamphlet  in  the 
Whig  interest  ;  and  then  secured,  thougl:  a  judicions  change 
of  j-olitical  faith,  the  barony  wliich  marked  his  allegiance 
to  liis  Tory  friend  and  new  chief.  The  celebrated  remark 
of  Lord  AEelbourne  to  a  friend  who  had  solicited  a  higher 
step  in  the  Peerage  would  have  appeared  to  Bulwer  as 
singularly  inappropriate,  and  he  would  rather  have  thought 
the  ''  d — d  fool  "  was  the  man  who  did  not  push  his 
claim  to  every  such  distinction  ;  yet  Soutliey  refused,  and 
Scott  was  satisfied  with,  a  baronetcy,  that  assuredly  adds 
nothing  to  their  fame,  while  Bulwer  stifled  his  elation,  and 
assumed  the  bearing  of  a  man  to  whom  it  was  indifferent, 
or  acce[)ted  only  as  an  instalment  of  what  was  due  to  his 
hierit. 

We  may  in  passing  remark  how  among  the  guests 
accustomed  to  assemble  in  the  drawing-room  at  Gore 
Plouse,  wheie  the  Countess  of  Blessington  collected  a  set 
of  literary  and  other  celebrities,  there  would  be  seen  the 
figures  of  four  men,  whose  like  objects  were  directed  to  the 
single  purpose  of  personal  success,  to  be  obtained  through 
means  which  are  unmistakably  suggestive  of  their  different 
chai'acters.  Each  believed  in  himself,  while  none  could 
withhold  a  tacit  acknowledgment  of  the  other's  worth,  in 
the  direction  of  their  separate  enterprise.  First  stands 
D'Israeli,  of  whom  we  may  speak  with  undoubted  prai>se 
and  respect,  in  spite  of  his  many  political  mistakes  ;  next 
to  him  is  Louis  Napoleon,  the  well-known  hahitue  of  the 
Opera  and  lounger  at  Clubs,  scheming  his  Strasbourg  and 
Boulongo  ad  ventures;  the  other  two  are  Bulwer  and  D'Orsay, 
the  one  planning  to  secure  the  jiower  he  so  much  coverted, 
and  the  other  with  all  his  dilettantism  content  with  sartorial 
glories,  and  proud  that  his  name  should  go  down  lo 
posterity  as  the  successor  of  Brummel  and  the  Dandies, 
immortalized  by  the  shape  of  a  hat  or  the  length  of  a  wrist- 
band. 

So  little,  however,  was  Bulwer  inclined  to  admit  their 
rivalry,  that  he  was  ready  to  conteat  the  supremacy  of  each 


Ediors  Preface.  xlii 

— prepared  alike  for  official  residence  in  Downing  S(Tcct, 
to  assist  a  conspiracy,  or  receive  honourable  mention  in 
Dandydom — while  as  a  Novelist  he  had  a  leiiitimate  field 
for  action  where  he  could  certainly  rise  above  them  all. 

Whether  these  remarks  are  justified  by  a  perusal  of  the 
Letters,  or  not,  I  leave  for  the  decision  of  the  reader  ;  but 
I  would  more  especially  direct  attention  to  their  baariiig  on 
the  (lotnistic  rehitions  of  Lord  Lytton,  with  which  J  am 
mainly  concerned,  and  for  which  the  "Biography"  will  be 
found  to  be  equally  inaccurate.  The  Editor  hardly  con- 
ceals his  partisanship  in  his  curt  remarks  and  allusions  to 
his  Fatlier's  and  Mother's  early  engagement, — he  gives  his 
opinion  that  "  Miss  Wheeler  Avas  not  disposed  to  regard  Mrs. 
Bulwer  Lytton's  disapproval  as  an  absolute  obstacle  to  a 
marriige  seriously  desired  by  that  lady^s  son,"*  "■  who  would 
probably  have  been  weaned  from  encouraging  hopes  and 
wishes  associated  with  Miss  Wheeler,  he  had  received  from 
her  a  disiinct  assurance  that  she  was  resolved  not  to  marry 
him  without  his  mother's  approval.  No  such  announce- 
ment came  in  aid  of  his  struggie. "f 

Although  not  an  avowed  part  of  the  "  Autobiography," 
this  remark  may  with  tolerable  confidence  be  regarded  as 
inspired  by  the  father,  but  such  a  statement,  which  would 
be  inexcusable  if  true,  outrages  all  feelings  of  delicacy  and 
decorum,  when  well  known  to  be  an  invention,  and  can  be 
treated  only  as  a  positive  misrepresentation,  not  alone  from 
its  improbability,  but  by  the  written  avowal  of  Lord  Lytton 
himself,  that  Miss  Wheeler  had  three  times  broken  off  their 
engagement ;  though,  alas  !  it  was  as  often  renewed  through 
arguments  that  were  unfortunately  successful,  and  with 
the  a.ssurance  of  hia  Mothers  eventual  consent.  That  this 
was  at  last  dispensed  with  can  hardly  be  regarded  as  the 
fault  of  Miss  Wheeler,  but  as  the  inevitable  consequence  of 
a  persistent  influence  that  allowed  no  withdrawal,  and  at 
one  time  even  induced  him  to  urge  a  private  marriage.  J 

The  unmanly  and  ungenerous  endeavour  to  throw  tliis 
slight  upon  Lady  Lytton  is  only  one  of  the  many  proofs  of 
a  systematic  effoi-t  to  paint  a  character  which  is  wanting  in 
all  true  likeness  to  the  original. 

I  need  hardly  repeat  the  story  of  a  life  which  is  known 

*  F«fo  Vol.  ii.,  135  of  Biography.  f  Ihid,  p.  186. 

X  Letter  XLIV. 


xiv  Editor  s  Preface. 

to  most  readers,  nor  need  I  point  out  how  the  poor  wife 
suffered  every  conceivable  ontrnge  and  persecution  (witness 
the  dying  deposition  of  her  maid  Byrne),  till  under  feelings 
of  exasperation  that  may  now  be  readily  understood,  after 
f  even  years  of  long-suffering  and  forbearance.  She  had 
the  a'ulncity  to  letaliate,  and  thus  gave  advantage  for  the 
lir.miulgation  of  misstaten)cuts  unscrupulously  used  and 
encouraged,  while  the  husband  was  rciiearsing  a  new  role 
preparatory  to  the  eulogy  of  a  dutiful  son,  who  shows  so 
unmistakably  liis  (juestionable  selections  for  illustrating  the 
"  virtues  of  a  great  man"  and  "  tl)e  errors  of  a  good  one," 
and  then  rids  himself  of  other  difficulties  by  writing  with 
affected  delicacy  that  he  could  not  dismiss  the  subject 
with  the  simple  statement  that  his  father  married  for  love, 
and  that  his  marriage  was  imprudent  and  unhappy. 

Let,  then,  these  Letters  tell  their  own  tale  :  th.ey  will 
jirove  the  reality  of  an  attacliment  which,  although  sensu- 
ous in  its  expression,  was  probably  as  generous  as  the 
writer's  nature  would  j-ermit,  and  also  afford  a  curious 
illustration  of  what  the  Biographer  calls  his  valuable  direc- 
tion to  a  young  girl,  placed  through  unfortunate  domestic 
circumstances  in  a  very  difficult  and  unhappy  ^wsition.* 

The  correspondence  carries  the  reader  with  some 
intervals  though  the  years  of  courtship  and  early  married 
life,  and  it  is  remarkable  that  Miss  'Wheeler's  letters  over 
the  same  period  are  so  carefully  suppressed,  thus  afford- 
ing reasonable  ground  for  believing  that  they  would  hardly 
support  the  general  tenor  of  the  "  Biograpiiy."  Copies 
of  some  of  her  letters  are  now  published  at  the  end  of  this 
Volume,  with  extracts  from  her  "Journal,"  showing  the 
gradual  neglect  and  personal  violence  to  which  she  was  sub- 
jected ;  I  could  very  effectively  quote  more  from  her  own 
"  Autobiography,"  but  I  prefer  to  rest  almost  exclusively 
on  anthority  that  cannot  be  questioned  ;  else  it  could 
be  shown  how  she  accepted  reconciliations  for  tlie  sake  of 
her  children,  how  a  separation  was  eventually  forced  on 
her  by  the  versatile  actor,  who  skilfully  adoi)tcd  himself  to 
the  role  of  outraged  husband,  how  she  bore  all  these 
wrongs  till  at  last  even  her  children  were  taken  away  from 
her  :  then  indeed  the  Mother,  "  outraged  by  such  remorse- 
less persecution,"  gave  vent  to  her  anger  and  indignation 

*  Vide  Biography,  Vol.  ii.,  p.  162. 


Editor  s  Prejace.  xv 

at  the  falsehood  and  meanness  of  the  man,  who,  an  imposi- 
tion to  all  the  world  besides,  stood  revealed  in  his  true 
character  to  her  alone,  and  who  also  by  pretending  to  have 
made  sacrifices,  had  in  reality  robbed  her  of  the  happiness 
he  had  promised  and  so  ruthlessly  destroyed. 

After  making  all  allowances,  it  is  evident  that  the 
intention  of  the  Biographer,  in  his  own  immediate  work 
and  in  the  inspired  labours  of  supposed  independent 
critics,  has  very  much  fallen  short  of  what  had  been  wished. 
Lord  Lytton's  personality  evokes  neither  love  nor  sympathy, 
it  fails  to  direct  interest  to  the  man  who  outside  his 
literary  sphere  was  almost  insolent  in  the  expression  of  his 
self-satisfied  assumption,  and  barely  sympathetic  for  any- 
thing when  his  self-interest  was  not  the  main  object.  In 
literature  no  one  will  dispute  his  pre-eminence,  but  even 
this  is  limited  to  the  charming  novels  he  has  written  ;  it  is 
true  he  has  given  us  some  very  pretty  poetry,  and  that 
after  some  failures  he  was  successful  as  a  dramatist — but 
the  poetry  shows  little  more  than  a  facility  for  versification 
on  lines  that  were  then  almost  extinct,  and  have  since  been 
buried  beneath  the  fame  of  Byron,  Shelly  and  the  Lake 
Poets,  so  that  it  is  doubtful  whether  one  in  a  thousand 
could  repeat  half  a  dozen  consecutive  lines  from  any  of  his 
poetical  works.  Indeed,  it  is  only  as  an  accomplished 
Novelist  be  will  be  remembered,  but  here  he  will  always 
remain  in  the  front  rank,  although  he  had  a  certain  tricki- 
ness  of  style  and  was  not  always  original  in  his  conceptions, 
for  even  the  ''Caxtons"  is  but  an  imitation  of  "  Tristram 
Shandy,"  and  he  reduced  the  virtues  which  did  not  adorn 
his  life  to  mere  abstractions,  so  that  the  Good,  the  Beauti- 
ful and  the  True  (all  of  course  in  capitals)  are  made  to  do 
the  work  of  substantives,  while  retaining  their  limited  and 
more  shadowy  significance  under  sometimes  very  ques- 
tonablo  use. 

As  to  his  career  as  a  politician,  we  can  hardly  adopt  his 
own  singularly  modest  estimate  of  his  abilities  without  a 
smile,  es|)ecially  when  we  look  at  the  result  of  his  own  prog- 
nostications ;  that  he  should  have  been  made  a  Cabinet 
Minister,  however  creditable  to  a  powerful  Minister,  as  a 
proof  of  his  old  friendship,  yet  can  only  be  remembered  as 
making  a  distinct  failure,  judged  either  by  the  public  good 
or  even  his  own  success. 

No  doubt  he  could  be  relied  upon  for  obedience  to  orders, 


xvi  Editor  s  Preface. 

and  his  name  is  identified  witli  some  measures  of  utility, 
but  wo  cannot  help  feeling  that  this  was  a  weakness  only 
permitted  to  throw  a  ti'ansient  gleam  over  himself,  rather 
than  to  benefit  the  claS'S  with  wliom  the  Superdne  Senator 
could  hardly  be  expected  to  sympathise.  As  a  speaker  he 
was  unimpressive,  theatrical,  and  superficial — so  that  his 
carefully  prepared  speeches  did  not  evince  that  great  orator- 
ical talent  that  he  so  naively  took  credit  for,  but  gave  the 
impression  of  being  only  studied  essays,  delivered  with  the 
mechanical  gestures  he  had  so  successfully  mastered  in  the 
University  Debating  Society. 

I  find  ibis  well  sketched  by  a  contemporary,  who  wrote 
that  Sir  Bulwer  Lytton  inevitably  suggests  ideas  of  Don 
Quixote  when  he  is  silent,  and  of  the;  windmill  which  the 
the  Knight  of  La  Manclia  attacked  when  he  is  speaking,  his 
exuberance  of  gesture  justifying  the  saying  of  Lord  Palmer- 
ston  that  '"'the  House  l)ad  seen  the  speech  of  the  right  hou. 
gentleman." 

Perhaps  some  day  a  correct  Life  of  the  late  Lord  Lytton 
may  be  i)ublished,  lait  for  this  it  is  evident  that  these 
Letters,  and  the  Autobiography  of  the  late  Dowager  Lady 
Lytton,  must  be  taken  into  account,  as  a  set-off  to  the  mis- 
takes of  self-directed  opinion,  the  influence  of  family  pre- 
tention, political  partisanshi]),  and  other  evidence  of  work 
"  to  order.''' 

There  are  not  many  biographers  like  Boswell  or  auto- 
biographers  like  Trollope  ;  and  we  can  well  understand 
Thackeray's  objection  to  be  subjected  to  the  usual  i)rocess 
for  misleading  the  public. 

It  may  be  a  question  of  taste  how  far  the  publication  of 
private  correspondence  may  be  justified,  where  it  only  sup- 
]ilements  opinions  already  formed  ;  but  there  can  be  no 
doubt  of  its  necessity,  when  used  to  redress  wrong,  or  to 
correct  misstatements,  that  are  not  only  false  in  themselves, 
but  compel  us  to  repudiate  them  with  indignation  as 
attempts  to  impose  upon  our  credulity. 

We  may  better  believe  the  words  of  Lady  Lytton  when 
she  ;\  rites  :  "  Had  any  Angel  op'd  the  book  of  "Providence 
and  let  me  read  my  fate,  my  heart  had  broke  when  I  beheld 
the  sum  of  ills  which  one  by  one  I  have  endured." 

Louisa  Devey. 

Montresor,  Upper  Norwood. 


CONTENTS 

OF    THE     MOST    IMPORTANT    LETTERS. 


Letter  Page 

Introduction 3 

III.  Dr.  Johnson.— Mr.  Heivey 23 

VI.  Lady  Caroline S5 

YIII.  Early  attachments. — The  yearning  weakness  of  his  nature. 
— Fears  his  love  was  not  shared. — His  Mother's  favourite 
sou. — Fears  that  bis  Mother  will  not  consent  to  his  mar- 
riage.— Pleads  for  her  love. — Without  which  she  takes 
the  last  anchor  that  attaches  him  to  existance  .  .  .27 
X.  Astrology. — His   lingering  and  slow    disease. — Devotion  to 

free  principles. — Bitter  recollections  of  the  past.         .         •     35 

XIII.  Death  of  a  sit;ter.— Visit  to  ]\Ialvern 41 

XIV.  Return  from  JIalvern,  to  tell  Sir  John  Doyle  of  their  en- 
gagement.— Proposes  to  write  to  his  Mother,  without 
whose  consent  it  would  be  better  to  forget  him.        .         .     42 

XVI.  Inconsistency  of  Moral  feeling. — A  ring. — 111  at  ease.  .  45 
XXI.  She  overrates  bis  character. — Hypochondria  .  .  .53 
XXVI.  The  Mendicant  who  had  just  buried  her  children  .         .     59 

XXIX.  Spoken  to  his  mother  about  "  any  marriage. — Plans  for 
the  future. — power  and  reputation. — Literature  and  poli- 
tics.— This  servile  and  aristocratic  country. — Buy  a  seat 
in  the  House  of  Commons. — His  talent  for  public  speaking. 
— Diffidence  of  literary  success. — Another  secret  more 
valuable  than  any  other 63 

XXX.  Her  attachment  ardently  returned,  but  ill  repaid. — Re- 
morse.— Subject  to  disease  in  the  heart. — Utterly  incura- 
ble.— A  retreat  from  the  censure  of  prudes. — Gloom  and 
despondency.— Passion. --Danger. — Alone  upon  the  world 
again. — Farewell  for  ever 67 

XXXI.  Restless  irritability. — Visions  of  ambition. — Firm  pos- 
session of  resources  which  no  other  in  this  country  can 
command. — Deadly  pulsation  of  lieart. — Death. — Bittei'- 
ncss  of  thought. — Penetrated  the  hidden  recesses  of  truth. 

— Xo  hope  iu  the  future. — "  One  day." — "  One  night."     .     70 

XXXII.  One  more  meeting  ........     74 

XXXIV.  His  want  of  belief. — Darkness  of  his  own  opinions. — 

Eldest  brother  coming  back  to  England  .  ,  .  .75 
XXXVI.  Adam  Smith.— Writing  to  his  mother.—"  My  fate  is 

yours." — Lady  Caroline. — Miss  Spence  .  .  .  .79 
XXXIX.  Lord  Grey's  Vindication  of  Canning  .  .  .  .86 
XL.  Has  written  to  his  mother. — lias  a  very  bad  cold.  .  .  87 
XLI.  Verses  by  Miss  Landon. — Verses  by   Miss  Wheeler.--No 

letter  from  his  mother. — Writting  a  Satire.  .  .  .87 
XLII.  His  mother's  opposition  to  his  marriage. — Proposed  sej)- 


xviii  Contents. 

Letter  Pase 

eration. — Solemn   declaration   of  belief  that  bis    mother 
would  ultimately  have  consented. — Waits  her  reply.         .     89 

XLIII.  A  last  leltL'r  October  14th,  1826 92 

XLIV.  Asking  her  to  marry  at  once  1)3 

Lil.  Better  to  wait  than  ton\arry  now. — Saw  Brodie  about  pain 
in  heart. — "  Don  Juan." — Platos.— Miss  Landon's  book. — 
Diminution  of  her  fame 99 

LIII.      Nai)ok'on.— Elizabctii. — Lady       Caroline. — Pen-and  ink 

minalure. — "'I  hou  didst  annihilate  the  Earth  to  me."         .  103 

LIV.  Verses  on  Mi^s  "Wheeler's  sister,  Ilenrietta.— Just  linisbed 

novel.— Going  to  send  it  toColburn. — Hypocliondria  .        .  105 

LV.  Delighted  at  her  liking  his  verses. — Never  can  tell  wlietber 
what  he  writes  is  good  or  bad  till  sometime  after  composi- 
tion              ....  107 

LVII.  Prays  that  bis  rude  temper  and  morbidity  of  mind  be  al- 
layed.— Never  to  give  her  a  moment  of  uneasiness       .         .  110 

LX.  Disappointed  with  "Falkland." — Not  his  own  character. — 

"The  iSasidwich  islands.'" — "Memoirs  of  a  Gentleman."  114 

LXIII.  Tootliache.—"  The  Last  Man."         .         .         .         .         .  119 

LXIV.  Murray. — Lady  Caroline's  introduction. — Miss  Wheel- 
er's Ariel  Letters.         ........   123 

LXVI.  Cockburn  ill— Map  of  China.— Pitt  the  Arch  Cheat  of 

the  Country 125 

LXIX.  Elizabeth.— Lady   Caroline's  note. — Proposed     Military 

career. — Cockburn,  dissimilarity  of  pursuits       .         .         .  131 

LXXIL  Death  of  Duke  of  York.— Fear  of  arrest.-— "  Memoirs  of 

a  Gentleman." 137 

LXXV.  Gambling.— Murray.— Ottley.— Cockburn      .        .        .141 

LXXVI.  Saunders  and  Ottley.— Degradation  of  making  money 
from  publishers. — "  Our  letters  would  never  do  for  a  Court 
of  Ju.stice." 143 

LXXVII.   "Falkand"nnt  likely  to  be  received  by  Colburn      .  145 

LXXIX.  His  masculine  dignity  offended  at  manner   in  which 

she  receives  his  counsel 148 

LXXXII  His  letters  transcripts  of  his  feelings.— Fever,  faint- 
ness,  change  of  health. — Praise  of  her  share  in  "  Dame 
Rebecca  Berry." — Going  to  the  seaside. — "  Mortimer."      .  153 

LXXXVL  Colburn. — "Mortimer." — Quarrel  and  reconciliation 

with  his  Mother 159 

LXXXVIL   Kemoved  to  St.  James's  Square 101 

XC.  Lady  Caroline  to  be  despised. — (M)iection  to  her  letters. — 
Their   expression   of   resentment. — Her  pride. — Want   of 

love. — Fear  of  an  ulitmate  break 164 

XCIV.  Villiers.— Napoleon 174 

XCV.   R.  O.  S.  E.— Arch  quack  of  tale-writing— Walter  Scott,  .  176 
XCIX.   "Falkland,"  proposal  for  making  it  longer. — Cut  off  his 

whiskers. — Mr.  Ollier's  letter  respecting  "Falkland  "        .  183 
CI.  "Falkland."— Whole  expression  of  face  altered. — Not  fit  to 

be  seen 185 

CVI.   "Falldand"  altered.— The  "Great     Unknown."— Vanity.  193 

CVII.   "  Falkland  "  finished  at  last.— Preface  still  to  write  .         .  194 

CVIII.  Miss    Boore.— 3lr.  Jerdan.— Miss  Landon.— Not  recon- 


Contejits.  xix 

Letter  Page 

cilcfl  to  his  mother. — Dislike  of  Cockhurn. — Writing  "  Pil- 
ham,"  a     gentleman     like  Gil  Bias. — Mrs.    Cunuingbam  1<J5 

CXI.   '•  Falkland  "sold 201 

CXIII.  Visit  to  Brocket t:03 

CXV.   Reconciliation   with   his  Mother 208 

CXVI,  Anxiety  for  her   health. — His   pursuits   at    Knebworlh-  209 

CXVIII.  Never   loved  lier    better 213 

GXXI.  Violent  desire  to  destroy  her  picture,  so  unlike  her  beau- 
tiful features. — Verses.— lias  finished  his   "'Satire" — will 

take  it  to  Murray •        ...  217 

CXXII.  Miss  Wheeler's  low  spirits 220 

CXXIII.  His  mother  less  averse  than  before        ....  221 

CXXV.  Reviews  on   "Falkland  " 223 

(;XXVI.  Terms  for  "  Moitiiner"  and  the  "  Rebel"      .         .         .224 

CXXVII.  Bioken  hearts 226 

CXXVIII.   "  Rude  and  sullen  nature." — Forgiveness.         .         .  227 
CXXX.  Presents   from     Poodle. — Campbell. — Called     on      his 

mother,  who  was    very    dejected 230 

CXXXIII.    ••Lover— Husband— all" 285 

CXXXLV.  Sir  John    Doyle— Criticism 236 

CXLIIl.  Murray's  offer  for  the  '•Satire" 248 

CXLVI.  Disurace  to  have  been  Lord  Byron's   friend. — Critique 

on   "  Falkland  "  in  the  Chronicle 253 

CXLIX.  The  present  aL^e  dupeil  by  Canning. — Letters  from  Mrs. 

Wheeler  and  SirF.    Doyle 255 

CLI.   "The  Rebel." — •' Pelham." — Change  of  name. — Interest  . 

to  procure  the  baronetcy      . 257 

CLVIII.  -'The  Rebel."— "Falkland."— "Weeds"      .        .         .263 
CLXVI.  Complains  of  signes  of  waning  love. — Broken  with  him 

three  times. — Asks  for  return  of  letter        ....  269 
CLXXI.  ]Mr.  King,  mentioned  in  "Pelham." — Peel   .        .        .  274 

CLXXXI.  Letters  for  his  mother  to  see 283 

CLXXXIII.  Proof  of  "Rebel."— Carriage  .        .        .        .285 

CXCVI.  The   Richmond  Party 295 

CXCIX.  A  quarrel. — Shall    not  send  back   presents  yet.— Has 
seen  Woodcot. — Bought  a  tea  and  dessert  set  of  Dresden 

china  298 

CCXII.  Confidence  in  his  provision  for  present  and  future         .  308 

LETTERS  AFTEU  MARRIAGE. 

CCXXVI.  Villiers'  loss  of  wardrobe. — Seat  in    Parliament. — . 
Place  in  the    Palace. — Leigh   Hunt's  character  of  Lord 

Byron   .         •         • 323 

CCXXX.  "  Pelham  "—Visit  to  St.  Giles'    with  Villiers  and  a 

Bow  street  officer 327 

CCXXXI.  Domestic. — Change    of    ministry. — "The    place  and 

change  of  Baronetcy     gone. — Lady   Caroline.  .         .  328 

CCXXXH.   "Pelham." — Lizzard       Council. — "Sayings        and 

Doings  " 329 

CCXXXIli.  Cockburn's    MS. — Proposes    obtaining   the   Doyle 

Baronetcy 330 

CCXXXV.  Col.  Ormsby.—Oflfer  of  £1700  for  Seat  in  Parliament    333 
CCXXXVI. — Raising  Money  for  Purchase  of  Seat  in  Parlia- 
ment  884 


XX  Contents. 

Letter  Page 

CCXXXVIII.  "Pelham." — Change    of    Ministry. — Proposes  (o 

Write  a  stinging  pamphlet       ......   335 

CCXLI.   Colbiiin 338 

CCXLII.  Ptdiiirec. — Baronetcy. — Raising  Money. — Colburn. — 

"The  Disowned" 339 

CCXLVI.   Reviews.— Chihl's  ilhiess 343 

CCLV.  Dinner  at  t^ir  Ciiarles  Dnylc's — Letter  from  his  Mother.— 

Settlement  respecting  the  Baronetcy  ....  354 
CCLVI.  Domestic. — Projxjsed  Interview  with  his  Mother        .  35(5 

CCLXI.  Town  Houses.— The  Baronetcy 362 

CCLXIV.  .Tealotisy  of  Cliild 366 

CCLXV.  Her  Three-days'  Journey  back  to  Woodcot  alone.         .  368 

CCLXVI.  First  Letter  from  D'tsraeli 870 

CCLXVIII.  His  Visit  to  Knebworth 373 

CCLXIX.  Bale  of  Lizzard  Connell  property 374 

CCLXX.  Child's  illness  and  nursing 375 

CCLXXIV.  iSliss  Greene  a  "  dangerous  and  malignant  enemy." 

— His  religious  views. — Her  "  blackest  treacher}  ."  .  381 
CCLXXXIII.   "Devereaux." — ?doore,     "hot,     laughing,     and 

vulgar" 392 

CCLXXXIV.  Decided  to  buy  the  house  in  Hertford  Street  .  o03 
CCLXXXV.  The  letter  written  by  Mr.  E.  L.  Bulwer,  from  the 

Castle  Hotel,  after  a  gross  personal  outrage  July  4th, 

18:34 394 

CCLXXXVI.  Proposing,  if  tired  of  Gloucester,  to  visit  Lem- 

ington       . 400 

CCLXXXVIL  Reviews    of    "Last  Days    of   Pompeii." — Sore 

threat  and  cold 402 

CCLXXXIX.  Declines  her  assistance  ......  403 

CCXC.  His  deafness.— Cockburn 404 

CCXCL  Emily's  illness 405 

CCXCIL  Expecting  his  wife  to  come  to  London  on  Tuesday, 

April  4th,  1835 406 

CCXCIIL  Proposal    to  forget  the  past  and  "  try  once  more  "  to 

lead  the  old  life 406 

CCXCTV.   His  indignation  at  her  visit  to  his  chambers        .         .  408 

CCXCV.  Demands  an  apology 408 

CCXCVL  Letter  ceasing  correspondence  .  .  ,  .  .  409 
CCXCVII.  Suggestions  for  stating  cause  of  separation,  March 

22nd,  1836 409 

CCXCVni.  His  Last  letter. — Determination  not  to  live  with  her 

again.        ..........  410 

Three  letters  (copies)  in  her  own  handwriting  of  those  written  by 

Mrs.  Bulwer  to  her  husband.  Two  from  Gloucester,  1834, 

and  one  from  Berrymead  Priory,  Acton,  Api'il,  1836.  .  413 
Extracts  from  a  journel  of  Mrs.  Bulwer  when  at  Berrymead, 

December,  1835 426 

Letter  from  MissPlancheto  the  Baroness  de  Ritter  respecting  the 

death  of  Miss  Bulwer 439 

The  Baroness  de  Ritler's  answer  ...  ....  441 

Deposition  of  Rosetta  Benson  (whose  maiden  name  was  Bryrne) 

when  dying,  before  a  Hertfordshire  magistrate.    (Byrne 

was  lady's-maid  for  nearly  twenty  years  to  Lajiy  Lytton).  449 


LORD   LYTTON'S   LETTERS. 


I. 

To  Miss  Eosina  Wheeler. 

Mr.  E.  Lytton  Bulwer  presents  liis  compliments  to 
Miss  Wheeler ;  he  has  just  returned  from  the  Isle  of 
Thanet,  and  intends  going  into  Hertfordshire  to-morrow 
or  the  next  day.  He  would  feel  so  extremely  flattered 
could  he  be  the  bearer  of  any  note  to  Lady  Caroline,  or 
execute  any  other  commission  for  Miss  Wheeler. 
5,  Upper  Seymour  Street. 

Thursday  Morning. 

Mr.  Edward  Bulwer  rarely  dated  his  letters.  There  is 
no  date  to  this,  but  it  must  have  been  in  October,  1825,  as 
Miss  Wheeler  states  that  she  was  just  verging  on  her 
twenty-third  birthday  (2nd  November)  when  she  first  met 
Mrs.  Lytton  and  her  son  at  a  reception  at  Miss  Benger's 
(not  at  Miss  BerryX  as  stated  by  Lord  Lytton  in  the  life 
of  his  father). 

IL 

To  Miss  RosiisrA  Wheeler. 

[His  praise  of  his  wiitiugs  undeserved.] 

I  am  utterly  at  a  loss  how  to  express  to  Miss  Wheeler 
the  pleasure  I  have  derived  from  her  note  ;  will  she  permit 
me  to  ask  her,  if  she  has  not  observed  with  me  that  minds 

[311 


22  Lord  Lyttons  Letters. 

of  a  higher  order  extend  their  liberality  even  to  the  praises 
they  bestow,  and  if  she  will  not  therefore  believe  that, 
while  I  feel  how  undeserved  are  those  with  which  she  has 
honored  me,  I  do,  at  least,  homage  to  the  sentiments  from 
which  they  arose  ?  When  I  was  in  the  Highlands,  I 
remember  being  exceedingly  curious  to  know  what  possible 
value  could  be  attached  to  a  stone,  remarkable  for  nothing 
but  the  brightness  of  its  colour,  and  which  its  possessor,  an 
old  woman,  seemed  to  prize  as  a  most  inestimable  treasure. 
The  stone  (she  told  me  with  great  solemnity  in  answer  to 
my  questions)  was  formerly  black,  but  the  Queen  of  the 
Fairies  came  there  one  night  and  changed  it  to  its  present 
colour,  merely  by  a  look.  I  believe  that  I  have  become  as 
superstitious  as  the  old  lady, — that  I  really  persuade 
myself  that  the  pages  Miss  Wheeler  has  read  have  taken  a 
brighter  hue  since  she  has  looked  at  them,  and  that  things 
formerly  insignificant  and  worthless  have  derived  from  her 
a  value  and  a  sanctity  not  their  own.  In  consequence  of 
my  absence  from  London,  Miss  Wheeler's  note,  as  well  as 
the  fragment  of  one  to  Miss  Benger,  have  only  just  been 
received.  In  enclosing  these  lines  to  Miss  Spence,  I  order 
my  servant  particularly  to  enquire  respecting  Miss 
Wheeler's  indisposition,  and  earnestly  hope  for  a  favourable 
report. 
5,  Tipper  Seymour  Street. 
Sunday. 

III. 

To  Miss  RosiNA  Wheeler. 

[Dr.  Johnson. — Mr.  Hervey]. 

Mr.  Lytton  Bulwer  presents  his  compliments  to  Miss 
Wheeler,  and  has  the  honor  of  sending  another  copy  of  his 
poems  according  to  her  flattering  request. 

In  looking  over  Milton  the  other  day,  Mr.  Bulwer  dis- 


Lord  Lyttons  Letters.  23 

covered  that  by  some  unaceoantable  mistake  Dr.  Johnson 
has  been  called  a  Scotsman  instead  of  a  SojjJiist.  This 
mistake  Mr.  Bulwer  would  be  very  much  obliged  to  Miss 
Wheeler  to  correct,  as  Truth  obliges  him  to  confess  that 
Dr.  Johnson,  dogmatic,  shallow,  bigoted  as  he  was,  is  not 
entitled  to  an  accusation  so  very  severe.  Mr.  Bulwer 
trusts  that  he  shall  not  be  considered  very  importunate  in 
owning  that  he  found  the  few  verses  in  Lady  Caroline's 
book  by  Miss  Wheeler  so  very  beautiful,  that  he  cannot 
resist  renewing  his  entreaty  for  permission  to  see  more. 
Should  Miss  Wliceler  see  anything  of  Mr.  Hervey,  perhaps 
she  will  be  so  kind  as  to  express  Mr.  Bulwer's  regret  at  the 
miscarriage  of  his  note  in  answer  to  Mr.  Hcrvey's  requesi.. 
and  to  say  how  much  he  was  flal  tered  by  the  request,  and 
by  the  present  which  accompanied  it.  If  Mr,  Hervey 
would  let  Mr.  Bulwer  know  how  much  time  he  may  be 
allowed  for  the  writing  a  contribution  to  the  next  volume 
of  the  Friendshixt's  Offering,  Mr.  Bulwer  will  have  much 
pleasure  in  preparing  one  expressly  for  the  purpose,  either 
in  i)ro30  or  poetry,  as  Mr.  Horvcy  may  prefer.  Mr.  Bulwer 
is  confident  that  he  cannot  better  return  the  high  gratifi- 
cation he  has  received  from  Mr.  Hervey's  poetry  than  in 
requesting  Miss  Wheeler  to  convey  his  admiration.  When 
we  have  learnt  to  disguise  feeling  in  flippancy,  and  borrow 
the  levity  of  the  world  in  order  to  veil  the  deeper  recesses 
of  our  hearts  ;  when  we  have  grown  averse  to  discovering 
the  less  ordinary  emotions  which  we  have  learnt  the  dan- 
ger of  feeling ;  when,  shrinking  from  ourselves,  we  have 
taken  our  language  and  our  manner  from  the  common- 
l)lace  objects  which  surround  us — it  is  then  that  we  are 
taught  all  our  obligation  to  that  genius  which  can  alone 
afford  us  enthusiasm  without  leaving  us  regret. 
6,  Upper  Seymour  Street. 
T^iesday. 


24  Lord  Lyttons  Letters, 


IV. 

To  Miss  Rosista  Wheeler. 

[Mr.  Heivey.J 

In  sending  LaJy  Caroline  a  book  she  wished  to  have,  I 
have  taken  the  liberty  of  enclosing  the  sketch  I  think  of 
sending  Mr.  Ilcrvey  (that  is,  if  you  approve  of  it),  not 
without  tlie  hope  of  benefiting  by  any  corrections  you  may 
do  me  the  lienor  to  suggest. 

It  is  Avith  great  respect  and  esteem  that  I  subscribe 
myself,  Miss  Wheeler's  very  obedient   servant, 

Edwakd  Lytton  Bulweb. 

Knehworth, 
Wednesday. 

The  following  three  letters  are  disguised  in  Miss  Lan- 
don's  cramped  handwriting  : 


To  Miss  Wheeler. 

[Interest  in  Miss  Wheeler.] 

Shall  I  never  more  see  the  handwriting  of  the  dear 
Eosina  ?  It  is  an  age  since  I  was  gladdened  by  a  single 
glance  of  her  eyes,  yet  if  they  may  not  beam  on  me,  let  me 
at  least  have  a  few  lines  to  tell  me  how  and  where  she  is, 
and  when  and  where  I  may  hope  to  meet  her  again. 

Believe  me,  few  are  more  truly  interested  in  you  than 
myself  ;  but  tliis  you  will  not  believe,  lovely  aristocrat. 
N'importe,  I  am  faithful  and  sincere,  and  long  most 
ardentlyto  see  some  predictions  of  which  you  were  the  sab- 
ject.  I  am  neither  well  nor  happy,  nor  likely  to  become 
80 — in  truth,  more  ready  to  turn  my  back  on  this  world. 


Lord  Lyttoiis  Letters.  25 

and  its  ordeal  ;  but  let  me  first  take  leave  of  you,  tliougl: 
that  would  merely  tempt  me  to  look  behind.  E.  B. 

63,  Warren  Street,  Fiizroy  Square. 
Wednesday. 

VI. 

To    Miss    Wheeler,     Manchester     Street,    Manchester 

Square. 

[Lady  Caroline] 

Peace  to  Lady  Isabella  ;  since  she  has  promised  me  a 
billet  from  dear  Rosina  I  shall  no  longer  consider  her  an 
evil  spirit,  but  as  a  benignant  minister.  My  illness,  sudden 
and  violent,  also  alarming,  was  soon  subdued  by  laudanum, 
and  I  am  now  almost  in  my  ordinary  state  of  Valetudi- 
narianism, with  the  unacceptable  addition  of  a  new 
restraint  suggested  by  the  experience  of  yesterday,  namely, 
never  to  eat  after  having  taken  a  long  walk,  by  which 
imprudence  alone  it  seems  my  late  seizure  was  occasioned. 
Away  with  such  themes !  I  shall  struggle  hard  to  meet 
you  on  Monday  ;  but  even  that  will  not  quite  console  me  for 
having  broken  my  faith  on  Monday  with  the  unique  Caro- 
line. I  wonder  not  that  you  were  deeply  affected  in  con- 
templating lier  sufferings  ;  but  her  generous  earnestness  to 
l')roniote  cordiality  between  her  husband  and  her  friend  was 
still  more  touching.  What  he  is,  I  know  not,  nor  care.  I 
believe  that  he  really  possesses  a  soul,  however  he  may 
boast  of  an  accompHshed  mind.  Ilelas !  Avhat  is  a  fine 
mind  in  that  man  without  a  gallant  spirit,  a  congenial 
temper,  full  flowing  sympathies,  and  true  nobleness  of 
character  !  I  cannot  think  I  should  like  him,  however  I 
might  be  disposed  to  admire  the  talents  and  accomplish- 
ments that  have  won  the  homage  of ,  and  were  she  not 

the  wife  of  his  bosom,  would  probably  be  the  mistress  of 
his  choice,  such  caprice  is  there  in  lordly  man,  with  all  his 


26  Lord  Lyttons  Letters. 

pretended  dignity  and  devotion.  MissSpcnce  tells  me  that 
you  have  ceased  to  v/eep.  I  grudge  those  tears,  not  to 
love,  but  to  Rosina  ;  or,  rather,  the  better  I  love  the  one, — 
the  more  must  I  grieve  for  the  other.  Let  us  be  gay  ou 
Monday  ;  that  is,  as  common  beings  are  gay — the  tears 
transmuted  to  years — the  lieart  contented  to  remain  in  its 
own  little  corner,  full  satisfied  that  it  shall  soon  regain  its 
wonted  freedom,  and  exercise  its  old  tyranny.  I  could  go 
on,  but  tliat  I  fear  to  miss  the  post,  and  1  know  that  I  am 
in  a  very  ill  humour,  and,  therefore,  but  too  apt  to  make 
you  melancholy.  My  mother  was  all  the  better  for  the 
visit,  and  thanks  you  cordially  for  you  kind  remembrance. 

E.  L.  B. 

VII. 

To  Miss  Rosina  Wheeler. 

[Miss  Landon.] 

Thanks  to  my  dear,  kind  Rosina  for  her  little  lUlet, 
which  I  gladly  accept  a  pledge  of  future  favours.  Oar 
friend  Spence  is  genial  as  Anacreon,  love,  in  transmitting 
our  little  epistolets.  I  hope  you  relish  diminatives.  I  am 
always  pressing  them  into  our  language,  but  they  do  not 
always  suit  your  eagle  pen.  I  am  delighted  with  your 
elegant  and  most  felicitous  rebuke  to  Tommy's  imperti- 
nence. I  see  in  your  pen  the  power  of  the  electricians  in 
dispersing  the  clouds  that  portend  a  temi)est.  Helas  ! 
what  boots  all  this  ?  I  care  much  more  for  your  side. 
Would  you  could  tell  me,  it  were  easy.  Believe  me,  the 
apt,  though  more  cruel,  is  less  impractable;  besides,  the 
Ijeart,  the  feeling  heart,  never  can  be  quite  easy,  a  certain 
d.egree  of  painful  excitation  being  necessary  even  to  its 
pleasurable  gratification.  Helas!  when  once  Ave  have 
departed  from  this  terrestrial  sphere,  we  will  take  care  never 
to  return  to  it.     Axq  you  not  pL'i\sed,  delighted  1  should 


Lord  Lyttons  Letters.  27 

say,  with  the  little  quick  song  in  the  Litararij  Gazette,  by 
your,  or  I  may  say  our  charming  Landon  ?  I  am  glad  to 
forget  myself  in  the  })erusal  of  such  compositions.  It  is, 
to  my  taste,  one  of  her  sweetest  gems.  I  am  vexed  like 
you  about  the  contested  book.  Why  is  the  cnchanti'ess  so 
ill-advised,  and  why,  with  her  quick  intelligence,  will  she 
endure  to  be  so  overruled  ? 
Farewell,  till  we  meet. 

Ever,  ever  yours, 

E.  B. 
VIIL 

To  Miss  Kosina  Wheeler. 

[Early  attachmenls. — The  "yearning  weakness"  of  liis  nature. 
Fears  bis  love  was  not  shared. — His  mother's  favorite  son. — Fears 
that  his  mother  would  not  consent  to  his  marriage. — Pleads  for 
her  love. — Without  which  she  takes  the  last  anchor  that  attaches 
him  to  existence  ] 

Saturday  Night. 

I  have  twice  begun  to  write,  and  twice  I  have  destroyed 
what  I  have  written — the  same  restraint  which  oppressed 
me  in  speaking,  seems  to  operate  also  upon  this  method  of 
uttering  the  feelings  you  have  inspired,  No  matter  1 
Their  nature  you  have  discovered.  Love,  admiration,  pas- 
sion, are  not  the  less  deGjily  felt  for  being  imperfectly 
expressed  ;  the  trembling  of  tlie  voice,  the  embarrassment 
of  manner,  the  difficulty  of  expression  which  diminish  the 
eloquence,  do  jusiice  at  least  to  the  reality  of  feeling. 

From  the  first  moment  I  saw  you,  I  was  attracted 
towards  you.  The  sentiments  you  inspii'ed  carried  me 
back  to  years  of  more  fresh  and  unsullied  lemeinbrance. 
They  had  no  place  among  the  ordinary  attachments  which 
tlie  world  had  more  lately  afforded  me.  I  could  not  define 
their  nature  ;  I  could  not  reason  them  away.  Early  cir- 
cumstances, which  embittered  and  darkened  my  character. 


28  Lord  Lyttons  Letters. 

the  exhaustion  of  feeling  which  follows  an  over-wrought 
excitation,  and  that  premature  acquaintance  with  the  world 
which  tends  above  all  things  to  harden  the  heart,  had 
brought  me  the  great  lesson  of  time,  had  learnt  me  to 
reduce  affection  into  a  system,  and  to  despise  passion  as  the 
sickliness  of  romance.  '*  None  are  so  desolate,  but  some- 
thing dear"  will  at  times  relieve  and  brighten  the  monotony 
of  our  progress  through  life  ;  but  if,  of  late  years,  I  have 
formed  attachments,  they  have  been  made  by  circum- 
stances, and  they  found  but  a  feeble  echo  in  the  heart.  It 
was  you  who  taught  me  that  my  first — and  deepest  emotions 
were  smothered — not  extinct.  It  was  you  who  discovered 
to  me  that  the  truth  of  experience  had  something  in  store 
for  me  still  more  precious  than  the  creations  of  Fancy,  and 
that  my  earliest  visions  of  Beauty  and  Love  never  equalled 
the  perfection  I  beheld  and  coveted  in  you.  I  came  here, — 
in  proportion  as  I  saw  more  of  you,  I  discovered  more 
clearly  the  nature  of  your  sentiments  to  me.  Let  me  here 
digress  for  an  instant,  and  confess  to  you  the  earliest, — the 
prevailing,  the  most  yearning  weakness  of  my  nature.  It 
is,  to  find  in  the  one  who  should  become  to  me  the  most 
dear,  feelings  not  only  not  dissimilar  in  their  nature,  but 
in  their  extent,  to  those  I  should  experience  myself.  I  can- 
not love  truly,  without  loving  with  that  earnestness  and 
devotion  of  thought  and  soul  which  I  feel  no  ordinary 
attachment  could  repay.  Does  this  seem  to  you  vanity  ? 
Believe  me  that  it  is  not  so.  I  felt  as  if  I  should  never 
meet  such  a  return,  and  I  therefore  shi-unk  from  such 
depth  of  feeling  in  myself. 

Years  have  j)assed  since  I  experienced  any  emotion  like 
that  which  I  feel  for  you  at  this  moment.  Better,  perhaps, 
for  me,  if  I  had  still  been  successful  in  subduing  my  heart. 
I  return  to  my  subject.  I  came  here — a  spell  was  upon  mo 
— I  dured  not  express  to  you  what  I  felt.  I  talked  with 
levity  in  order  to  obtain  an  escape  from  the  more  serious 


Lord  Lyttons  Letters.  29 

subjecta  in  which  Feeling  is  engaged — I  could  not  trust 
myself  with  those.  I  said  that  I  discovered  the  nature  of 
your  sentiments  to  me.  I  saw  that  there  was  not  one  of  the 
nature  which  could  alone  satisfy  my  heart,  and  I  should 
have  left  you  with  my  own  unuttcred  (at  least  by  the  lips), 
and  with  the  resolution  to  forget  you,  had  not  all  the  cold- 
ness of  previous  reflection  been  destroyed  yesterday  by  the 
imprudence  of  a  single  moment,  I  touched  you,  I  held  your 
hand  in  mine,  and  I  felt  as  if  you  alone  were  all  the  world. 
What  were  Reason,  Resolution,  the  wisdom  of  Premedita- 
tion, to  the  impulse  of  that  unguarded  instant  ?  I  saw 
then  it  was  duo  to  you  to  express  myself  more  clearly.  I 
did  so.  Oh  God  !  that  in  that  brief  but  memorable  conver- 
sation which  ensued,  I  could  have  overcome  the  chilling 
impression  that,  even  amid  the  gentleness  and  kindness  of 
your  manner,  my  feelings  wore  unshared.  Yet  what 
could  I  expect  ?  A  mind  and  heart  like  yours  arc  not 
lightly  won,  nnd  yet  I  had  left  nothing  to  Time.  I  told 
you  that  I  adored  you  ;  I  repeat  it.  Examine  your  own 
feelings  and  tell  me  candidly  what  I  may  dare  to  expect.  I 
do  not  ask  if  the  sensations  I  would  excite  ARE  awakened  ;  I 
only  ask  if  they  are  capable  of  being  so.  For  the  happiness 
of  both  of  us,  answer  me  this  from  your  very  heart. 

I  have  disclosed  to  you  the  great,  the  perhaps  unreason- 
able, return  which  my  own  requires ;  consider  tliaf,  when 
you  give  me  your  reply.  I  turn  from  the  feelings  I  experi- 
ence to  the  circumstances  under  which  I  am  placed. 

I  am  my  mother's  favourite  son.  I  was  bi'ought  up 
solely  by  her,  when  my  brolhers  spent  their  childhood 
chiefly  with  other  relations.  She  considers  me,  therefore, 
as  the  one  whose  fate  will  more  immediately  reflect  upon 
her,  and  perhaps  for  that  reason  she  is  particularly  ambi- 
tious respecting  it.  Ilcr  affection  makes  her  desire  that  I 
should  be  happy,  but  her  pride  that  I  should  find  my 
happiness  in  the  distinctions  of  tlie  world.     As  yet  1  have 


2,0  Lord  Lytto7is  Letters. 

been  indifferent  to  these,  for  I  have  no  object  in  obtaining 
them  ;  tind  it  is  from  despair  at  my  indolence  that  my 
mother  has  wished  that  my  marriage  at  least  should,  as  it  is 
termed,  advance  me  in  the  world.  UNDER  PRESENT 
CIROUMSJ'ANCES,  I  feel  to  well  that  she  would  not  give 
her  consent  to  a  marriage  which,  while  she  acknowledged  as 
most  honourable,  would  still  appear  to  her  imprudent ! 
but  it  is  only  under  PRESENT  circumstances.  If  I  had 
once  attained  the  distinction  she  desires  for  me,  Fortune 
and  Connection  in  marriage  would  cease  to  be  an  object. 
She  has  even  told  me  (and  I  know  her  generosity  and  kind- 
ness too  well  to  disbelieve  it)  that  I  might  then  consult  my 
happiness  according  to  my  own  ideas  ;  and  when  no  longer 
biased  by  a  previous  prejudice,  she  would  preceive  and 
acknowledge  what  reason  she  would  have  for  pride  and 
exaultation  in  that  connection  which  is  the  first  desire  of 
my  Heart.  I  said  that  I  had  no  object  in  earning  reputa- 
tion. Suffer  me,  my  beautiful  and  adored  Friend,  to 
desire  it  from  you — tell  me  for  your  sahe  to  exert  myself, 
and  from  that  instant  a  new  spirit  shall  possess  me.  What 
could  I  not  hope  for,  what  could  I  not  achieve,  if  your 
smile  was  my  inspiration  and  your  love  my  reward  ?  I  do 
not  speak  from  the  romance  of  a  momentary  impulse,  or 
the  too  sanguine  cxpectntions  of  an  inexperienced  ambition. 
Hard  as  it  is  for  persons  depressed  by  poverty  and  birth  to 
obtain  distinction,  to  those  in  a  more  fortunate  situation  it 
requires  littie  but  the  stimulus  and  exertion.  Tell  me  to 
hope  for  you,  Rosina,  and  every  other  object  of  ambition 
will  appear  easy  and  mean  in  comparison. 

SUNDAY  MORNING.— It  is  unn  itural  in  me  to  say 
that  I  do  not  so  much  regret  a  delay,  which  I  know  shall 
not  be  long,  first  because  it  will  enable  me  to  hope  the  more 
that  I  may  obtain  your  affection,  and  secondly  to  render 
myself  more  deserving  of  the  treasure. 

So  far  had  I  written   when  I  received  and  read  your 


Lord  Lyttoiis  Letters.  31 

note.  Oil  !  never,  never,  Eosiua,  let  there  be  this  separa- 
tion between  our  hearts.  Will  what  I  have  written 
explain  my  sentiments  and  my  wishes  ?  I  pause — I  become 
embarrassed — I  know  not  what  I  would  express.* 

Hate  yo\i,  Eosina  !  At  this  moment  the  tears  are  in 
my  eyes,  my  lieart  beats  audibly  !  I  stop  to  kiss  the  paper 
consecrated  by  your  hand — can  these  signs  of  love  ever 
turn  into  hatred  ?  But  let  me  collect  myself.  I  will 
speak  to  you  calmly.  All  that  yuu  have  said  about  my 
mother  I  have  already  replied  to.  What  you  say  to  me  of 
a  brilliant  career  only  tells  me  how  joyless  it  would  be 
unendeared  by  an  affection  which  I  no  longer  despair  of 
obtaining,  and  by  one  who  would  bless  domestic,  even  more 
than  adorn  public  life.  You  have  awakened  already  the 
desire  to  place  you  in  a  situation  higher  than  I  yet  can 
oiler  yon,  and  more  worthy  of  yourself;  but  oli,  in  the 
solitude  which  shall  no  longer  be  that  of  indolence,  but 
exertion,  or  in  the  world,  from  whose  pursuits  T  shall  for 
your  sake  no  longer  turn  away,  will  it  be  too  much  to  hear 
from  you,  when  circumstances  forbid  me  to  see  you,  will 
you  suffer  me  occasionally  to  write  to  you,  to  communicate 
to  you  my  hopes  and  schemes,  and  to  be  encouraged  at  times 
by  your  opinion  in  return  ?  Do  not,  Rosina,  I  implore  you, 
do  not  refuse  me  this  !  In  the  coldness  of  the  ordinary 
affections  wiiich  will  surround  me  in  the  gloom  which 
circumstances  and  solitude  have  rendered  habitual  to  my 
temper — in  that  vrearyand  oppressive  sensation  of  loneliness 
which  absence  from  you  will  alone  be  suflicient  to  occas- 
sion,  do  not,  I  inii)lore  you,  deny  me  the  strength  of  this 
consolation  !  I  go  to  London  to-morrow.  I  await  your 
answer   with  feelings   I  can  neither   analyse  nor  express. 

*  This  letter  is  endorsed  by  Lady  Lyttoa  :  "I  had  told  him  that 
botli  he  and  his  niotlicr  would  liatc  me,  when  they  found  I  could  not 
minister  to  his  insatiable  ambition.  Alas  that  I  should  have  been 
such  a  true  prophet  !— Re- read,  August,  1851." 


32  Lord  Lyttoiis  Letters. 

Reply  to  mc  fully  and  candidly,  as  I  litive  written  to  yon, — 
tell  mo  if  I  am  one  wlioso  f.'olin^'S  you  can  nnderstand, 
ivhoso  lot  you  coukl  pirLuke,  whoso  love  you  would  return  ; 
and  remember,  at  all  events,  that  I  bind  you  to  no  promise, 
that  I  douumd  from  3'ou  no  faith.  Say  to  me  at  once,  if 
you  meet  Avitli  one  more  worthy  of  you,  and  whose  love 
you  would  sooner  reward,  sny  to  mo  at  once  that  my  mis- 
fortunes are  full ;  and  I  rele;iso  you  from  that  instant 
and  fur  ever  from  my  importunities. 

Touched,  penetrated  to  the  very  soul,  by  your  gene- 
rosity, believe  mo  in  every  circumstance  and  scene  of  life, 
whatever  be  the  result  of  this  correspondence,  your  stead- 
iest and  most  devoted  friend.  You  may  render  life 
doubly  valueless  to  mo,  but  I  shall  not  cease  to  cherish  the 
hope  that  it  may  ultimately  be  useful  to  you  ;  and  even  if 
you  take  from  me  the  last  anchor  Avhich  attaches  me  to 
existence,  I  shall  remember  you  as  one  who  brought  back 
to  me  my  earliest  and  best  affections  ;  and  whether  in  the 
loneliness  of  retirement,  the  wanderings  of  a  darkened  and 
blighted  spirit,  or  the  more  unquiet  resources  of  Ambition, 
I  shall  not  cease  to  consecrate  your  remembrance,  with  all 
the  holiness  of  veneration,  and  to  cling  to  it  with  all  the 
tenderness  of  regret. 

Edward  LTTTO]sr  Bulwee. 

Brocket  Rail. 
Sunday,  April,  1826. 

My  address  will  be  at  the  Athenrenra,  Waterloo  Place. 
I  need  not  caution  you  to  keep  this  from  Lady  Caroline 
Lamb.  I  have  other  reasons  than  her  want  of  conceal- 
ment.* 

*  This  letter  is  endorsed  by  Lady  Lyiton  :  "Ileniiglit  well  tcl 
me  not  to  tell  poor  Lady  Caroline  of  his  offer  ;  for  she,  who  knew 
him  and  his  molLer  well,  did  all  she  could  to  warn  me  against  him, 
in  the  reiteratedly  ominously  prophetic  words  :  '  Don't  let  Edward 
Bulwer  hunt  you  down — they  are  a  bad  scl.' — He-read  August, 
1851." 


Lord  Lytions  Letters,  33 


IX. 

To  Miss  E.   Wheeler,  At  the  Hon.  W.   Lamb's,  Brocket 
Hall,  Welwyn,  Herts. 

[Reference  to  the  Corn  Laws. — Visit  to  Brocket.] 

A  morning  ride  is  no  hardship,  and  a  shower  of  rain  no 
misfortune.  This  is  truer,  I  believe,  than  the  generality 
of  maxims.  If  it  were  my  lot  to  suffer  the  former,  I  must 
also  confess  that  I  escaped  the  latter  ;  it  did  not  rain  till  I 
was  in  London.  It  is  so  sweet  to  flatter  myself  that  I 
could  excite  anxiety  in  you,  that  I  look  upon  this  avowal 
as  a  proof  of  singular  candor.  Who  would  willingly  cease 
to  be  an  object  of  interest  with  you  ?  If  as  you  know, 
there  is  notliing  that  I  would  not  undertake  for  your  love, 
so  I  trust  you  will  believe  that  there  is  no  hardship  (even 
if  it  were  somewhat  more  severe  than  a  wet  ride)  which 
would  not  be  converted  into  pleasure  if  it  procured  me 
sooner  a  single  testimony  of  your  remembrance  this  is 
not  the  less  sincere  for  its  appearance  of  commonplace  ;  we 
lose /(?cZiw^  when  we  seek  for  new  methods  to  emhody'it', 
nature  for  the  most  part  is  old  ;  it  is  only  Art  which  lays 
claim  to  the  graces  of  invention.  I  have  written  to  Lady 
Caroline  to  say  I  shall  be  at  Brocket  Saturday  or  Sunday. 
I  fear  it  will  be  the  latter  day.  I  am  detained  by  persons 
who  are  at  this  moment  surrounding  me,  and  interrupting 
me  every  instant  with  observations  on  the  Corn  Laws. 
"Now,  Mr.  Bulwer,  your  good  sense  must  make  you  i)er- 
cieve  that  if  so  many  bushels  Avere  sold  in  1823,  there  must 
be  so  many  sold  in  1825  ;"  or  then  comes  :  "  ojien  the 
ports  " — "  landed  aristocracy  " — "  great  country  '' — "  ruin  " 
— "destructions  and  wise  precautions  of  our  ancestors." 
All  this  I  am  expected  to  comment  upon  and  to  answer, 
while  all  my  thoughts,  soul,  heart,  are — where,  Rosina  ? 


34  Lord  Lyttons  Letters. 

Do  you  remember  the  morning  of  that  evening  (which 
is  now  to  me  the  most  precious  I  can  remember)  when  we 
walked  together  to  the  lodge,  where  we  sat  for  some  time 
in  the  little  temple,  and  where  I  attempted  to  converse  with 
3'ou  upon  ordinary  subjects,  while  I  would  have  given 
worlds  to  have  opened  to  you  my  heart  ?  What  a  change 
has  a  few  days  created  since  then  !  At  that  hour  I  was 
alone  upon  the  world,  living  from  day  to  day  without 
an  energy,  an  object,  a  desire  beyond  the  monotony  of 
commonplace  existence.  The  past  could  only  afford  me 
the  remembrance  of  affections  that  had  perished  in  others, 
and  feelings  that  had  Avithered  in  myself  ;  and  for  the 
fnturo, — I  had  already  survived  the  great  charm  which  it 
affords  our  desires, — I  had  already  felt,  with  the  most 
melancholy  (as  well  as  the  zvisest)  of  writers,  that  for  me 
"  there  was  nothing  new  under  the  sun."  I  w;is  about  to 
turn  from  the  only  one  who  hnd  for  years  interested  my 
heart  as  well  as  attracted  my  fancy,  and  to  shrink  at  once 
into  all  the  coldness,  the  solitude,  the  fricndlessness  of  life. 
Now  a  new  soul  has  entered  within  me.  I  have  come 
forth,  like  the  Grecian,  from  the  charms  of  an  enchantress 
into  the  glory  and  freshness  of  a  new  youth.  I  have  an 
object  alike  for  my  feelings  and  my  aspirations  ;  and  as 
men  in  old  times  chose  a  wilderness  to  erect  an  alt;ir  for 
ttieir  gods,  so  the  sterility  and  desert  of  my  heart  have 
become  at  once  consecrated  by  the  altar  which  I  have 
erected  to  you.  But  I  recall  myself  from  these  flights. 
No  wonder  that  I  wander  when  I  turn  to  dream  ovfir  my 
recollections  of  you.     Farewell.     Your  most  devotedlv, 

E.  L.'  B. 

You  will  depend  on  me  by  four,  or  a  little  after,  on 
Sunday. 


Lord  Lyttofis  Lette^^s.  35 


X. 

To  Miss  "Wheeler,  4,  Somerset  Street. 

[Astrology. — His  lingering  and  slow  disease. — Devotion  to  free  prin- 
ciples.— Bitter  recollections  of  the  past.] 

Marshall  Thompson's  Hotel, 

Sunday. 
Oh,  my  dear  Rose  I  Where  shall  I  find  words  to 
exi)ress  my  love  for  you  ?  Your  kiss  still  dwells  upon 
my  lips,  my  hand  still  thrills  beneath  your  touch,  and 
your  breath  still  lingers  on  my  remembrance,  fraught 
indeed ''with  more  treasures  than  an  Indian  sea."  Ah! 
in  those  moments  were  there  no  wilder  passions,  to  sub- 
due? was  there  notliing  in  my  heart  to  remind  me  that 
even  in  tlie  midst  of  heaven  I  was  still  actuated  by  the 
passions,  and  engrossed  by  the  madness,  of  mortality  ?  But 
do  not  let  me  give  way  to  feelings  which,  Eoso,  when  I 
come  to  a  passage  like  this, — that  is  when  I  would  express 
the  emotions  your  very  name  is  sufficient  to  awaken, — I 
feel  choked  witli  their  variety  and  oi)pressed  with  their 
intenseness,  I  pause  for  moments — for  minutes.  I  search 
for  words,  but  language  deserts  me,  and  all  tliat  I  can 
retrace  of  remembiance  or  embody  of  emotion  only  causes 
me  to  commune  loitli  my  own  heart  and  to  be  still.  It 
wants  but  a  few  minutes  to  ten,  and  I  have  to  fill  this 
paper,  for  I  will  not  send  you  a  short  letter  least  you  should 
repay  me  in  kind  ;  and  yet  it  is  not  now  with  the  vivid  and 
passionate  remembrance  of  this  morning  still  fresh  upon 
my  mind  that  I  sliould  trust  myself  even  to  address  you  at 
all.  But  let  me  turn  from  this  (for  I  must  do  so)  to  a 
darker  presentiment  of  the  future.  I  told  you  I  was 
addicted  to  the  old  and  vain  speculations  of  astrology. 
Can  you  tell  mo.  Rose,  why  at  the  moment  I  Wiis  leaning 
on  your  bosom  the  fate  once  predicted  to  me  came  upon 


36  Loi^d  Lyttoiis  Letters. 

mo  a,3  distinctly  as  I  see  any  present  and  palpable  object 
before  me  at  this  instant — a  scailold — a  crowd —  all  which 
accompanies  the  death  of — .  You  laugh,  Eose,  I  see  yon, 
and  you  have  rea.-on.  I  woke  from  this  momentary  delirium 
and  I  s.iw  you — only  you.  Oh  Rose!  my  beautiful,  my 
beloved  !  If  I  might  form  my  own  plan  of  what  is  most 
happy  in  life,  and  most  honourable  in  death,  it  would  be 
to  owe  my  existence  to  you,  and  its  sacrilice  at  last  (not  to 
this  lingering  and  slow  disease  which  prevents  my  heart 
being  wholly  your  own),  but  to  those  free  principles  to 
which  I  have  devoted  myself  from  my  very  birth. 

Write  to  me,  I  beseech  you.  Rose,  not  only  to-morrow 
morning  as  eai*ly  as  you  can,  but,  if  possible,  by  the  jiost  to 
Knebworth  (near  Stevcnnge).  I  shall  write  to  you  again 
before  I  leave  town. 

Now  when  I  am  without  you  and  alone,  I  awaken  to  all 
tlie  bitterness  of  my  jiast  recollections.  I  see  before  me  all 
the  sins  and  errors  of  my  former  life,  and  all  the  evil  I 
have  occasioned  to  the  few  hearts  that  have  dared  to  cling 
to  me,  but  yours  shall  never  be  among  them.  You  shall 
indeed  "look  me  into  brightness,"  as  I  once  told  you 
before. 

And  now,  my  own  love,  I  shall  conclude.  I  long  to 
sleep,  that  I  may  dream  of  you.  Come  to  me,  my  betrothed, 
in  my  visions,  and  let  me  feel  once  more  your  breath  upon 
my  lips. 

E.  L.  BULWEE. 

XI. 

To  Miss  Rosina  Wheeler,  40,  Somerset  Street,  Portman 
Square,  London. 
[Her  sister's  illness.  J 

CheltenJiam,  1826. 
My  Dearest  Rosina  : — You,  who  know  and  feel  that  my 
thoughts  must  always  be  with  you,  will  not  be  surprised  at 


Lord  Lyttons  Letters.  37 

hearing  from  me  again.  The  fact  is,  that  I  am  very- 
anxious  about  your  sister's  health.  Where  you  feel  interest, 
/must;  and  in  the  more  near  and  intimate  subjects  of 
your  last  letter,  to  which  I  replied  yesterday,  I  forgot— or 
rather  I  had  no  room — to  reply  to  the  contents  of  your 
former  one.  This  was  put  into  my  hands  just  as  I  was 
leaving  London,  and  I  had  no  time  to  answer  it  then. 
Noin,  are  not  the  doubts  you  expressed  there  removed  ? 
Our  hearts  at  last  understand  each  other,  and  ha\e  become 
one.  What  can  sepai'ute  the  waters  one  poured  into  one 
channel  ?  But  there  is  one  thing  which  I  may  as  well 
answer,  lest  you  should  mistake  my  feelings  hereafter — it 
is  your  proposal  to  imitate  "poor  Mrs.  Acton,  and  be  ill." 

My  dearest  JRosina,  remember  that,  thougii  love  he  per- 
haps a  selfish  passion,  and  that  we  often  are  actuated  by 
lesser  and  more  unworthy  feelings,  yet  with  me  it  is  always 
unconsciously  to  myself — if  love  makes  me  wander  from 
what  is  right,  it  is  because  he  has  blinded  me  first.  Never 
would  I  willingly  and  wilfully  deprive  you  of  a  single 
enjoyment.  My  fears,  if  they  offended  you,  were  also 
peculiar  to  myself.  I  will  confess  that  I  was  not  vain 
enough  to  be  confident,  but  at  least  I  was  too  proud  to  be 
jealous.  This  is  a  subtle,  but  it  is  a  true  distinction.  The 
miser  dreads  lest,  through  his  own  fault  or  misfortune, 
he  should  lose  his  treasure  ;  but  he  docs  not  see  in  his  most 
anxious  moments  the  treasure  itself  walk  out  of  the  door, 
or  fly  out  of  the  window.  But,  I  repeat  it,  these  doubts 
arc  over.  I  give  myself  up  to  the  sweet  hope  that  there  is 
nothing  to  bar  the  confidence  and  the  commune  of  our 
hearts.  At  this  moment  I  feel  as  if  every  word,  which  / 
write  in  the  remembrance  that  it  will  be  read  by  you,  is  a 
new  link  to  bring  us  closer  together. 

Eosina !  Eosina !  Every  letter  of  that  sweet  name 
from  the  south,  seems  softer  to  my  spirit  than  music,  and 
Avhen,  my  beautiful,  my  beloved,  I  add  the  epithets  which 


2,S  Lord  Lyttons  Letters, 

belong  to  that  name,  I  linger  over  every  syllable,  as  if  loth 
to  leave  the  tender  and  passionate  remembrance  which  it 
excites  and  recalls.  Wi'ito  tome,  and  tell  me  of  your  sister 
— every  tie  which  is  separated  from  others,  shall  only  be 
transferred  to  ourselves.  We  are  alone  upon  the  world  ; 
let  us  cling  to  one  another  for  support.  The  links  and 
affections  which  belong  to  others,  and  seem  from  your  birth 
to  have  been  denied  to  you, — from  me,  the  dearest  have 
been  severed  by  death.  All  things,  our  very  solitude  and 
desolation  among  the  world,  should  make  us  shrink  more 
utterly  into  ourselves  ;  and  from  the  very  sorrows  of  the 
past  we  should  draw  the  hope  and  consolation  of  the  future. 
Write  to  me,  and  tell  me  that  you  despond  no  more.  The 
certainty  of  onr  union  at  last  shall  support  us  thi'ough  all 
doubt,  fear  and  separation  now.  For  me  that  one  hope  is 
sufficient  cause  for  happiness. 

Your  letter  (how  much,  much  more  that  letter  has  made 
me  love  you  !)  I  have  kissed  till  you  yourself  would  be 
jealous  of  the  adoration  I  have  paid  it;  and  your  hair, 
which  hangs  upon  my  heart,  can  witness  how  faithfully  it 
has  beat  for  you.  I  do  not  like  the  locket  I  have  chosen  ; 
I  cannot  get  the  hair  out  when  I  wish,  the  glass  seems  a 
barrier  to  my  lips ;  but  perhaps  it  is  best  so,  or  I  should 
kiss  it  away.     Adieu,  my  own  love  !  my  soul'  is  with  you. 

E.  L.   BULWER. 

XII. 

To  Miss   R.    Wheeler,    40,  Somerset    Street,    Portman 
Square,  London. 

[Clielteuliani. — Miss  Landon's  portrait  of  i\Iiss  Wheeler.] 
Absence  from  Cheltenham  for  tvro  or  three  days  has 
prevented  my  receiving  your  letters  till  now,  and  will,  I 
hope,  therefore  be  my  excuse  for  not  having  replied  to  them 
before.  Why,  indeed,  is  there  not  a  language  to  express 
feeling  ?     What  a  pity  it  is  that  wo  cannot  have  that  which 


Lord  Lyt ton's  Letters.  39 

Emmanuel  Swedenborg  has  invented  for  his  angels  ! — not 
words, — but  a  sort  of  thin  undulating  vapour,  on  which 
the  feelings  areas  it  were  stamped  and  made  visible  !  Yet 
after  all,  there  is  one  language  of  the  lips  which  I  would 
not  exchange  for  all  the  visions  of  more  celestial  intercourse, 
and  I  persuade  myself  when  I  kiss  your  letters  and  your 
hair,  that  I  am  practicing  that  language  for  a  still  dearer 
occasion.  I  half  think  you  will  laugh  at  me  obeying  you, 
and  enclosing  some  of  my  hair,  for  I  am  sure  you  either 
think  me  exceedingly  vain  already,  or  have  formed  a  design 
of  making  me  so.  However  it  is  as  impossible  to  resist  you 
in  small  as  in  great  things ;  and  I  run  all  risks  for  the 
pleasure  of  obeying  you.  Talking  of  hair,  I  have  made 
more  enemies  in  England  by  curled  hair,  than  by  all  the 
superiority  you  are  so  flattering  as  to  impute  to  me.  I 
know  nothing  so  unpopular  among  men,  as  to  be  born  with 
that  defect ;  it  quite  astonishes  me  to  think  of  the  obloquy 
and  prosecution  to  which  it  has  exposed  me.  You  ask  me 
how  I  like  Cheltenham.  The  town  and  country  are  the 
most  beautiful  I  ever  saw,  but  "my  heart's  is  the  High- 
lands, my  heart  is  not  here,'' — there  is  a  void  in  the  charms 
which  surround  me,  and  my  soul  longs,  though  in  vain,  to 
fill  it  with  you.  And  now  having  got  through  the  more 
ordinary  topics  of  my  letter,  let  me  turn,  dearest  llosina, 
entirely  to  those  which  relate  to  you.  Fortunately  for  me  I 
opened  your  second  letter  before  your  first,  so  that  I  only 
received  the  news  of  your  illness  in  the  same  moment  that  I 
was  assured  of  your  recovery.  My  dear,  dear  love,  do 
immediately  let  me  know  how  you  are  ;  I  feel  still  extreme- 
ly uneasy  about  you  ;  my  hopes,  affections,  nay,  my  very 
life,  are  completely  wrapt  in  yours.  I  attend  your  news 
with  impatience.  I  know  not  how  it  is,  when  I  reflect  on 
the  shortness  of  time  that  I  have  known  you,  but  I  feel  so 
much  more  confidence  in  you  than  I  should  in  any  other 
woman.     There  seems  to  me  something  more  high  and 


40  Lord  Lyttons  Letters, 

noble  in  3'our  dipposition,  than  in  that  even  of  the  most 
attractive  woman  I  have  known.  One  reason  why  I  have 
never,  since  1  was  seventeen,  been  attached  long  or  dcei)ly 
to  any  one  is,  that  I  have  never  felt  I  could  trust  or  esteem 
them  as  equals  ;  but  for  you  I  feel  as  much  friendship  as 
passion,  and  I  think  to  discover  (what  seems  to  me  impos- 
sible) any  littleness  in  your  nature  would  be  the  only  thing 
tliat  could  ever  console  me  for  any  diminution  in  your  love. 
You  may  be  sure  that  I  shall  be  all  impatience  to  see  your 
portrait  by  Miss  Landon.  Could  not  you  tell  me  any  of  the 
lines  ?  As  to  her  prediction,  I  trust — yes — that  it  will  be 
verified,  that  you  will  die  in  my  arms,  and  be  awakened  by 
my  kisses.  I  have  been  too  busy  with  thinking  about  you 
to  have  got  on  at  all  with  my  satire.  I  must  shut  myself  up 
somewhere  for  a  week  on  leaving  Cheltenham,  and  refuse 
myself  the  delicious  distraction  (there's  an  alliteration  for 
you  !)  of  your  letters.  I  write  poetry  very  fast,  and  generally 
correct  as  I  go  on,  but  I  tell  people  I  write  slow,  for  I  hate 
the  cant  of  the  extempore  composers.  Pray  do  you  under- 
stand Latin  ?  Let  me  know  ;  if  you  do  I  will  write  you 
some  verses  in  that  language  ;  if  not,  you  must  be  content- 
ed with  English.  You  may  bo  sure,  by-the-b3"e,  from  my 
love  itself,  that  I  am  not  afraid  of  superiority  and  knowl- 
edge in  women,  and  I  think  I  could  forgive  you  though  no 
one  else,  even  if  you  knew  why  black  kettles  radiate  more 
than  white,  and  could  detail  all  the  metaphysical  subtleties 
of  Kant  and  Berkeley. 

Adieu,  my  dream  of  beauty,  for  no  reality  equals  you. 

I  send  you  a  thousand  kisses — can^t  you  send  me  one  ? 
Ever  most  affectionately  yours, 

E.  L.  B. 


Lord  Lyttons  Letters.  41 


XIII. 

To  Miss  Rosina  Wheeler,  40,   Somerseb   Street,   Port- 
man    Square,   London. 

[Death  of  Sister. — Visit  to  Malvern.] 

Clieltenliam,  1826. 
Console  yourself,  my  own  dear  love,  (I  steal  your 
friend's  expression),  console  yourself  for  the  loss  you  have 
sustained.  See,  after  all,  how  leally  happy  are  many  of 
those  circumstances  we  mistake  for  misfortunes.  Your 
alienation  from  your  sister  seems  formerly  to  have  given 
3'ou  much  pain — now  that  very  fact  makes  your  consola- 
tion. Your  separation  from  your  mother  threw  you  into 
a  situation,  which,  to  say  the  least,  was  disadvantageous 
and  unpleasant  ;  but  had  you  gone  with  her  to  Paris,  it  is 
more  than  probable  that  we  should  never  have  met.  Let 
me  trust  that  the  last  event  will  not  be  the  most  unfortu- 
nate in  your  life.  Your  feelings  are  natural  to  your  dispo- 
sition. I  know  so  well  what  death  is,  that  I  can  do  justice 
to  your  grief,  even  though  for  a  relation  whom  yon  saw  so 
little.  All  other  comforters  than  those  of  time  and  reflec- 
tion must  seem  to  you  commonplace,  and  I  can  offer  you 
no  consolation  but  the  assurance  that  I  feel  to  my  heart 
whatever  interests,  grieves,  or  affects  you.  Believe,  then, 
the  sincerity  of  my  sympathy.  Your  beautiful  letters  give 
mo  a  pleasure  I  cannot  express  ;  but  this  you  will  conceive 
without  my  telling  you.  A  very  "  King  Cambyses,"  ono 
from  me  you  will  have  received  before  this.  It  was  written 
under  very  feverish  excitation  ;  do  not  let  it  give  you  any 
nneasincss.  The  next  morning  the  fever  had  left  me,  my 
heart  lost  the  painful  and  irregular  motion  which  it  felt 
before,  and  I  was  once  more  the  sober  and  grave  personage 
1  am  now.     Do  you  find  with  me  that  one  is  never  one's 


42  Lord  Lyitofis   Lettei^s. 

self  till  the  duy  is  over  ?  I  begin  to  he  about  midnight ;  I 
am  like  ;ill  the  rest  of  the  word  before. 

"  Helas  !  il  vaunt  mieux  ressembler  un  peu  plus  au 
commun  des  liommes  et  avoir  un  peu  moins  de  malheur." 

But  I  have  no  "  malhuer"  now  ;  for  your  beauty  sheds 
itself  over  all  things.  I  am  Just  setting  off  for  j\Ialvern,  so 
let  your  next  be  directed  there,  and  excuse  the  shortness 
and  dulness  of  this  letter.  Farewell,  my  dear  Eosina. 
May  you  be  blest  and  rewarded  for  loving  one  like  me. 

"  In  the  desert  a  fountain  is  springing, 
In  the  wide  waste  there  still  is  a  tree, 
A  bird  in  ye  solitude  singing, 
Which  speaks  my  to  my  spirit  of  thee." 

E.   L.   BULWER. 

S.  p.  The  more  I  think  of  it,  the  more  it  seems  to  me 
probable  that  your  mother  will  have  you  with  her.  I 
think  (judging  from  human  nature  in  general)  that  I  can 
foresee  a  great  change  in  this  individual  case.  I  cannot 
say  that  this  will  give  me  all  the  pleasure  it  ought.  How- 
ever, I  must  learn  to  be  less  selfish.  My  horses  are  at  the 
door  ;  I  hear  my  own  pawing.  Oh  !  M'hy,  with  your  letter 
at  my  heart,  do  I  feci  so  causelessly  wretched  and  despond- 
ent as  I  do  at  this  moment. 

XIV. 

To  Miss  R.  Wheeler,  4,  Somerset  Street. 

[Return  from  Malvern,  to  tell  Sir  John  Doyle  of  their  engagement. — 
Proposes  to  write  to  his  mother,  without  whose  consent  it 
would  be  better  to  forget  him.] 

I  did  not  think  you  were  still  ill.  Good  God,  how 
uneasy  you  have  made  me.  Oh  !  if  you  could  but  know 
how  I  long  to  see  you  !  Directly  I  got  your  letter  at  Mal- 
vern, which  I  did  not  till  Sunday,  I  resolved  to  stay  there 


Lord  Lytto7is  Letters.  43 

no  longer.  I  determined  to  see  you  before  your  uncle  came 
to  town.  I  sent  on  my  servant  and  luggage  and  one  of 
the  horses.  It  rained  in  torrents,  and  I  waited  till  it  was 
over,  which  was  not  till  past  twelve  at  night.  Fool  that  I 
was  for  my  effeminancy  !  If  I  had  come  through  it,  I 
might  have  seen  you  two  days  before.  I  then  rode  to 
Cheltenham.  Such  a  clear,  beautiful  night  !  How  I 
thought  of  you  then  !  Little  did  I  think  yru  were  ill  and 
unhappy  !  (But  you  are  not,  you  shall  not  be  either.) 
When  I  got  to  Cheltenham,  after  all,  the  coaches  were 
full,  and  I,  not  prepared  for  such  an  occurrence  (natural 
as  it  was),  had  not  enough  to  pay  for  jiostc-horscs.  I  was 
in  a  perfect  fever  till  I  found  myself  in  the  mail  last  night. 
And  now — nor.  to  see  you  alone,  but  with  Miss  Spence. 
Yet  see  you  I  must.  My  dearest  Rose,  you  cannot  imagine 
Ave  can  say  all  we  have  to  say  before  any  one  else.  I  must 
see  you  alone  ;  you  cannot,  I  am  sure  you  cannot,  refuse 
me  this.  As  to  your  uncle,  tell  him  if  you  choose  ;  at 
least,  ?/}ou  find  it  gives  you  a  moment's  pain  to  conceal  it. 
How  can  you,  indeed,  tell  me  it  would  make  you  happier 
to  do  so,  and  yet  ask  me  to  consent  ?  But  it  will  do  us  no 
other  good  ;  I  cannot  see  you  there  without  my  mother's 
knowing  it,  and  I  am  forced  to  concealment.  Then  if  she 
did  discover  it,  it  would  destroy  all  the  hope  of  her  ;ippro- 
bation  that  I  now  venture  to  entertain.  Perhaps,  after  all, 
I  had  better  write  to  my  mother  and  tell  her  everything. 
If  she  will  consent  at  any  future  period,  we  will  not 
repine  ;  and  if  she  says  not,  then,  upon  my  honor  and  soul, 
you  had  better  learn  to  forget  me.  Much  as  I  owe  my 
mother,  much  as  I  might  resolve  not  to  act  against  her 
wishes,  yet  all  obligation  and  resolution  sink  away  before 
my  love  for  you.  But  you  cannot  marry  a  beggar,  nor  can 
I  see  a)iy  hope  of  being  otherwise  \vSthout  my  mother's 
wishes  and  api)robation.  But  enough  of  this  noAv  ;  at 
present,  I  can  only  think  of  you.     Dearest  Rose,  could  you 


44  Lord  Lyttons   Letters. 

fear  any  alteration  in  3-our  person,  could  you  affect  any  in 
my  Jove  ?  If  you  Avere  to  grow  ugly,  then  ugliness  as 
belonging  to  you  Avould  seem  to  me  like  beauty.  I  did  not 
think  this  over,  but  your  mind,  your  heart  have  accom- 
plished all  which  your  i^erson  began.  I  know  I  feel  how 
vainly  my  feelings  are  now  seeking  for  c-xpressions.  Even 
ordinary  language  seems  to  fail  me,  but  this  is  no  time  for 
words.  Whatever  may  be  our  fate,  whether  separated  or 
united,  I  shall  never  cease  to  adore  you.  I  shall  never 
cease  to  swear  to  you  the  same  faith  and  devotion  which  I 
swear  to  you  noio.  E.  B. 

If  my  mother  knows  by  any  cliance  or  through  any 
quarter,  that  things  have  proceeded  as  far  as  they  have, 
then  I  repeat  that  there  is  not  the  least  hope  of  ultimate 
consent.  lam  so  very,  very  unhappy  about  your  being  ill ! 
I  have  passed  by  your  house  twice  to-day,  but  could  not 
catch  any  glimpse  of  you.  My  mother  has  only  just  left 
town.  What  a  relief  !  Do  keep  yourself  well  and  happy. 
Every  time  you  tell  me  you  are  not  so,  it  seems  as  if  /  were 
the  cause.  Alas  !  how  often  still,  how  bitterly  at  this  pre- 
sent moment,  I  reproach  myself  for  having  ever  linked  one 
of  your  affections  to  me  !  Eosina!  On  that  word  I  have 
stopped  to  press  the  lips  which  are  sacred  to  you  now  and 
forever.  I  shall  leave  this  myself,  in  the  certainty  of  see- 
ing, at  least,  y^  home  where  you  live. 

XV. 

To  Miss  Wheeler,  40,  Somerset  Street,  Portman  Square. 

[Public  Dinner.] 

Your  letter,  my  darling,  has  just  been  received,  and 
kissed.  You  ask  me  to  tell  you  what  I  have  done  since  I 
saw  you.  Existing  I — that  is  all.  I  dined  yesterday  at  a 
sort  of  public  dinner  given  to  a  man  whose  character  has 


Lord  Lyttons   Letters,  45 

been  very  unjustly  slandered  by  those  of  his  friends  wlio 
are  sufficiently  silly  not  to  forsake  him  for  it ;  but  rather 
show  that  Avhutever  acquaintance  they  might  form  in  private 
they  are  not  ashamed  to  claim  and  assert  in  public. 
Directly  even  a  common  acquaintance  becomes  unfortunate, 
he  becomes  at  that  moment  a  friend.  I  made  haste  back 
in  order  to  get  your  letter.  I  was  here  a  little  before  ten. 
I  durst  not  ask  if  there  were  any  notes  for  me  ;  but  I  went 
up  stairs  so  slowly,  and  I  looked  in  all  the  corners  of  the 
room  before  I  ventured  to  cast  my  eyes  on  the  only  one  in 
which  the  letter  would  be  placed — and  then,  Rose  ! — But  I 
can  only  thank  you  by  *  *  *  *  *  {marks  of  kisses). 
Adieu,  my  darling,  I  must  leave  you — my  own,  own,  own 
flower,  in  whom  the  honey  of  all  others  is  centered. 
Ever  your  wholly  and  only, 

E.  L.  B. 

Pray  write  as  soon  as  you  can,  and  say  if  you'll  be 
at  Miss  Spence's.  Good-bye,  my  own,  own,  own  Love 
*  *  *  *  *  (marks  of  kisses). 

XVI. 

To  Miss  Wheeler,  Somerset  Street. 

[Inconsistency  of  monil  feeling.— A  ring. — 111  at  ease.] 

Sunday. 
I  have  sent  for  my  horse  and  to  Thomson's  Hotel  for 
any  letters  ;  but  I  scarcely  venture  to  hope  for  an  answer 
to  mine  yet  ;  it  would  bo  too  good  in  you  to  write  so  soon, 
especially  after  that  paragraph  in  your  letter  which  I  now 
first,  and  above  all  things,  reply  to,  never,  my  darling, 
never  hurt  00  own  health  by  getting  up  in  the  cold  or  sit- 
ting up  late  to  write  mo  ;  much  as  I  long  to  hear  from  you 
I  cannot  bear  the  idea  of  occasioning  you  sacrifices  in  every 
thing.  Whenever  you  can  have  un  opportunity  to  write  to 
me  without  self  reproach  on  the  one  hand,  or  self-incouveni- 


46  Lord  Lyttons  Letters. 

dice  on  the  other,  llieii  remember  that  I  have  no  pleasure 
in  this  dull  life  (wlieu  away  from  yon)  but  that  which  your 
letters  afford.  I  have,  however,  cost  you  too  much  already 
to  wish  to  add  to  the  sum.  Perhaps  I  may  recompense  you 
hereafter,  but  in  my  endeavouring  to  repay  I  shall  not 
cease  to  remember  what  my  heart  has  owed  to  yours,  I 
can  feel  my  poor  Rose,  for  all  the  humiliation  I  have 
brought  on  you — perhaps  I  do  not  feel  it  much  less  acutely 
than  yourself,  made  melancholy  by  nature,  and  morose  by 
ye  habit  of  solitude,  I  can,  as  you  know,  easily  find  matter 
for  gloomy  reflections.  Judge  then,  whether  in  a  jdace 
where  all  things  remind  me  of  you,  I  am  perfectly  callous 
to  remorse  for  the  evils  I  have  brought  upon  you.  I  do  not 
know  whence  arises  tliat  inconsistency  of  moral  feeling 
which  I  think  is  peculiar  to  myself.  I  could  commit  any 
crime — any,  however  great  and  crying — and  my  conscience 
would  be  silent ;  but  the  smallest  offence  against  those  who 
have  loved  me  wrings  me  afterwards  to  the  very  soul. 
There  is  not  one  cold  word,  one  careless  or  negligent  pecu- 
liarity of  manner,  which  my  vanity  made  me  affect,  or  my 
own  morbid  disposition  really  occasioned  towards  you, 
which  docs  not  come  home  to  me  now.  But  enough  of 
this,  I  know  sufficiently  of  myself  to  know  that  I  can  yet 
make  you  happy,  and  I  will  !  I  cannot  agree  with  you  as 
to  the  inference  you  would  draw  from  what  you  imagined 
you  saw  the  other  evening.  I  scarcely  think  an  apparition 
would  take  the  trouble  of  appearing  merely  to  announce 
Lord  Hastings'  death.  Pray  tell  me  how  Elizabeth  is — I 
lono"  to  hear — for  all  yonr  friends  seem  to  me  even  more 
dear  than  my  own.  We  have  luoked  for  the  hare's  paw, 
but  in  vain.  We  have  however,  discovered  your  knife, 
which  1  shall  take  care  of  for  you.  I  know  not  why  it  is, 
but  I  am  oppressed  to-day  with  a  hot  burning  sensation,  as 
if  I  had  drank  fire.  The  ride  will  do  me  good,  and  now. 
Rose,  let  me  thank  you  for  your  ring  ;  I  have  kept  that  for 


Lord  Lytto7is   Letters.  47 

tlie  last.  I  would  rather  it  had  been  a  plain  gold  ring,  like 
a  wedding  one,  only  thicker,  as  /have  a  particular  super- 
stition with  regard  to  a  ring  of  that  sort ;  but  this  is  quite 
beautiful,  and  its  only  fault  is  yours,  i.  e.,  that  of  being  too 
handsome.  At  this  moment  I  am  looking  on  it,  so  that 
I  do  not  see  how  I  am  writing  ;  but  it  recalls  you  to  me 
vividly  ,  if  by  a  spell.  I  have  kissed  it,  and  fancied  it 
was  your  lips,  the  only  treasure  in  the  woidd  for  which  I 
would  exchange  it.  I  shall  leave  this  myself  on  my  way 
out  of  town.  When  I  return,  I  shall  find  out  the  best 
miniature  painter,  and  we  will  have  yours  done.  Forgive 
me  if  this  letter  is  stupid.  My  heart  is  ill  at  ease.  No 
matter  !  Perhaps  in  the  justic'e  which  so  mysteriously 
pervades  all  things,  it  saves  yours  from  a  pang.  Adieu  ! 
in  my  distress  or  pain  consider  me  as  your  genius,  and  call 
upon  me — I  will  be  with  you.  While  I  live  and  have  my 
being,  not  one  of  those  dark  hairs  shall  be  injured.  Never, 
Rose  !  Think  more  of  what  may  happen  to  me.  If  all  the 
world  were  set  against  me  I  could  bear  it,  not  from  fortitude 
but  indifference.  If  one  finger  were  raised  against  you,  I 
should  lose  the  very  spring  and  balance  of  my  soul.  Fare- 
well, take  care  of  yourself,  think  of  me,  and  know  that  in 
all  your  sufferings  and  self-reproach  there  is  one,  who,  in 
spite  of  the  caprice  of  his  temper,  the  harshness  of  his 
manner,  the  darkness  and  quite  of  his  nature,  feels  in  each 
that  wretchedness  and  remorse  for  you  which,  for  himself, 
he  has  outlived.  E.  L.  B. 

Write  to  me  at  Knebworth,  near  Welwyn,  where  I  shall 
be  till  Wednesday  evening,  for  I  shall  wait  for  the  post  that 
day. 


48  Lord  Lytto7is  Letters. 


XVII. 

To  Miss  Wheeler,  40,  Somerset  Street. 
[Petulant  and  ill-humoied  from  pecuniary  embarrassments.] 

24,  St.  James's  Square. 

^ly  Dearest  Rose  and  Darliiigest  Poodle, — You  did  not 
offend  me,  but  you  hurt  me.  However,  we  will  not  tall: 
of  that  now,  me  is  determined,  if  00  will  let  mc,  to  do 
what  me  feels  is  right  to  00.  After  that,  if  00  docs  not 
love  me,  and  feels  that  mc  cannot  make  00  hai)py,  why  me 
will  leave  00  and  try  to  live  as  I  have  lived,  wretched  and 
isolated,  hut  alone.  But  enough  of  this  now.  Me  has 
every  cause  to  be  unhappy,  causes  which  me  cannot  detail 
to  00,  but  it  is  surely  sufficient  that  me  cannot  find  any- 
thing to  maintain  00  as  me  wishes  to  do  ;  and  if  00  knows, 
or  can  guess,  how  far  pecuniary  embarrassment  harasses 
and  wears  any  persons  who  have  minds  not  wholly  given 
up  to  pounds  and  pence,  then  00  can  forgive  me  if  me  was 
petulant  and  ill-humoured  this  morning. 

Never  mind  now,  mine  angel,  uni'so  ooself  well,  don't 
fret,  and  me  sail  find  in  oo  a  source  to  supply  all  the 
thirst  for  happiness  I  ever  had  in  my  youngest  and  wildest 
moments ;  only  if  me  comes  to  00  with  a  sullen  brow,  and 
a  sorrowful  spirit,  do  not  think  it  has  any  connection  with 
00,  and  any  relation  to  00.  Me  is  harassed  to  death  with 
a  great  bore  here,  and  my  wise  brother  PIcnry,  so  that  me 
scarcely  knows  what  me  says,  but  me  feels  m_y  heart  belies 
me  very  much  if  me  does  not  say  to  00  everything  that's 
kind  and  fond  and  deyoted, 

Oo  0W2f  PUPPS. 


Lord  Lyttoiis  Letters.  49 


XVIII. 

To  Miss  Wheeler,  Somerset  Street,  Portmau  Square. 

[Life  of  her  Uucle. — Orators,  English  and  Irish. — Must  meet  once 
more. — A  letter.] 

My  Own  Dear  Kind  Darling  Love  and  Poodle. — It  was 
not  the  simple  fact  of  being  tired  wliicli  would  have  made 
me  write  to  00  so  shortly  last  night  ;  but  I  had  received  a 
letter  which  disturbed  me  to  a  degree  you  may  imagine 
wdien  I  show  it  to  you,  which  w^ill  be  when  we  can  meet  in 
private.  It  is  quite  out  of  the  question  to  enclose,  or  even 
to  hint  at,  all  its  contents  nov/.  In  the  meanwhile,  I 
enclose  you  a  note  from  my  lawyer  about  the  annuity, 
wliicli  would  have  doubled  my  income  if  I  had  obtained  it, 
the  loss  of  which  we  must  replace,  or  we  shall  have  noth- 
ing to  procure  a  kennel  or  anything  else.  I  ought  to  send 
you  a  long  rodomontade  mysterious  letter  received  from 
Mr.  Ilervey.  I  am  in  a  desperate  rage  with  him  for  calling 
00,  my  own  darling  angel,  *'a  girl,"  it  is  a  word  sacred  to 
me,  for  it  is  the  third  j^rettiest  word  in  our  language. 
Does  my  own  Poodle  and  Rose  know  the  other  two  ? 
Many  thanks  for  the  Parliamentary  debates  which  I  will 
read  and  return  the  llrst  opportunity.  I  looked  over  your 
uncle's  honourable  and  estimable  life  last  niglit.  Zoo  has 
the  testimony  of  all  England,  to  say  nothing  of  Ireland,  to 
make  00  proud  of  him.  llis  speeches  show  mucli  genius 
and  imagination,  though  I  own  they  are  not  my  favourite 
stylo,  whicli  is  coarse,  yet  fervid,  an  utter  abandonment 
of  all  flower,  and  drawing  its  ornaments  solely  from  the 
newer  and  clearer  method  of  i)icturin(j  arguments.  Of  all 
English  speakers  I  like  Fo.\  the  best,  and  Ciiatam  next. 
Of  all  Irish  ones,  Gratton.  Don't  be  uneasy  about  my 
cough,  angel,  it  is  quite  gone  away  to-day,  and  I  am  very 


50  Lord  Lyttoiis   Letters. 

well.  My  own  darling,  darling  angel,  does  oo  think  that 
I  will  not  be  by  oo  house  at  ten  minutes  after  two  i)reciscly  ? 
Ah  !  zoo  knows  nothing  about  nic  if  oo  thinks  me  is  not 
burning  with  the  desire  to  see  oo.  And  now  in  answer  to 
what  00  says  about  meeting  me.  I  know  full  well  your 
generous  and  noble  nature,  and  it  is  that  knowledge  which 
makes  me  so  reluctant  to  impose  upon  it  and  to  express 
any  selfish  feelings  ;  but  if  ever  the  most  perfect  confidence, 
the  most  venerating  esteeme,  no  less  than  the  passion  which 
feeds  and  preys  upon  my  very  soul,  can  compensate  for  all 
00  endure  for  me,  oo  shall  see  whether  oo  does  not  get 
them  in  exchange,  when  I  have  showed  you  the  letter  I 
speak  of,  this  may  perhaps  shew  oo  that  I  am  not  so  wholly 
forgetful  of  00  divine  and  angel  nature  as  oo  seems  to 
think,  if  I  ever  say,  I  can  ever  love  or  esteem  oo  less. 
But  my  own  angel,  we  must  meet  once  more,  and  since  it 
is  not  more,  but  rather  less  dangerous,  why  should  we  not 
avail  ourselves  of  all  tiiat  dear  meeting  can  afford  ?  Ah  ! 
if  you  could  see  how  my  hand  trembles,  and  my  cheek 
burns  even  to  think  of  such  transport  !  Do  tell  me  when 
we  are  to  meet  !  I  should  say  before  Miss  Landon's  party 
— to-morrow  or  Tuesday;  but  if  oo  like,  after,  I  will  sub- 
mit. My  servant  waits,  and  I  am  eager  that  oo  should 
have  this  to  assure  oo  that  I  am  well,  that  1  shall  be  in 
Somerset  Street  ten  minutes  after  two,  and  tiiat  I  adore 
you  to  an  excess  that  is  literally  painful. 

Zoo  Own  Puppy. 
I  can't  get  in  tlie  lawyer's  letter,  and  as  it  only  says  I 
can't  get  the  annuity,  it  does  not  so  much  matter.  Pray 
send  me  Elizabeth's  letter  if  it  praises  oo,  it  will  be  like 
looking  in  the  glass  (which  oo  knows  me  likes),  and  seeing 
my  thoughts  reflected.  • 


Lord  Lyttoris  Letters.  51 


XIX. 

[Disgusted  with  other  women  compared  with  her.] 

My  Darling,  Darling  Love  and  Poodle, — The  more  I 
think  of  you,  the  more  I  love  you  ;  I  doat  upon  you  even 
to  madness.  Your  beauty,  so  singularly  perfect  ;  your 
kind,  noble  warm  heart  ;  your  temper,  so  feeling,  yet  so 
subdued ;  your  generous  and  devoted  love,  which  my 
unworthiness,  not  my  reason,  ever  questions,  all  impress 
themselves  upon  my  mind,  the  deeper  in  proportion  to  the 
consideration  they  receive.  I  see  other  women,  I  turn 
from  them  wearied  and  disgusted,  because  I  compare  them 
with  you — all  that  this  world  offers  only  seems  to  me 
weary,  stale  and  unprofitable,  compared  with  one  recollec- 
tion of  you.  I  love  you  so  entirely,  that  nothing  which 
once  gave  me  any  pleasure  can  do  so  any  longer.  You 
have  made  me  so  happy,  that  all  other  sources  of  happiness 
seem  at  best,  gloom  and  insipidity,  to  the  remembrance  of 
your  love.  Well,  darling,  I  turn  from  this,  but  with 
reluctance,  and  as  I  would  tear  myself  from  00  in  the 
{end  of  letter  torn  ojf.] 

XX. 

To  Miss  Wheeler. 
[Slight  attack  of  fever.] 

My  Most  Adored  Poodle, — Me  is  better,  much  better, 
this  evening.  It  is  only  a  slight  attack  of  fever,  which  a 
day  or  two  will  remove.  Me  has  been  only  consoled  by  not 
seeing  00,  by  the  feeling  of  my  unfitness  for  it.  AVhen  me 
is  ill  me  longs  to  be  in  a  desert. 

Me  must  not,  my  own  angel,  think  of  00  and  my  loss 
too  much,  or  my  pulse  will  indeed  gallop ;  and  so  for  a 


52  Lord  Lyttoiis   Letters. 

saline  dranglit.  Me  will  turn  to  Miss  Spence.  Was  she 
not  fearfully  vexed  at  Lady  Caroline's  shameful  secession  : 
I  thought  the  good  lady  would  drop. 

Me  docs  so  long  for  oo  letter  it  will  be  the  true  restora- 
tive. How  is  00  ?  Poor  Lady*  has  beeu  very  attentive  to 
me.  God  bless  go,  my  darling !  Let  your  imagination 
shape  the  most  wild  and  unbounded  chimeras  of  love,  and 
then  00  will  see  Puppy. 

E.  L.  B. 

XXL 

To  Miss  Wheeler,  40,  Somerset  Street. 
[She  overrates  his  character. — Hypochoudria.] 

Friday  Nigld. 
It  is  only,  my  dearest  love,  when  you  are  away  from  me 
that  you  shall  be  unhappy  on  my  account.  I  wish  to  God 
I  had  it  in  my  power  to  preserve  you  from  all  uneasiness, 
and  (to  adopt  to  a  different  sense  your  own  beautiful  lines), 
if  it  is  your  fate  to  have  ''a  mingled  dower  of  smiles  and 
tears,"  to  guard  you  at  least  from  "  the  grief  of  moments," 
and  ensure  to  you  ''the  bliss  of  years;"  but  that  time  will 
come  Kose ;  and  after  all,  we  should  not  love  each  other  so 
dearly  if  there  was  nothing  to  prevent  us  from  doing  so. 
My  dear,  dear  love,  I  do  not  deserve  your  kindness — indeed 
I  do  not.  You  overrate  my  character  greatly — how  greatly 
I  trust  you  may  never  know  ;  but  if  I  were  all  that  you 
seem  to  fancy  me,  how  unworthy  I  should  still  he  of 
your  love!  I  wish  you  were  with  me  now  dearest.  I  am 
so  touched  by  your  expressions  of  anxiety,  that  I  am  qnite 
in  despair  at  my  inability  to  thank  you  by  words — these  are 
the  best ''circulating  mediums"  of  the  heart.  Let  these 
pay  you  in  some  degree  for  your  dear,  dear  letter — there  ! 

*  A  doff 


Lord  Lyttons   Letters.  53 

\;marlcs  of  hisses  l\  Iso,  clearest!  I  will  not  bore  3'ou  with 
feelings  Avhicli  are  melancholy  rather  from  habit  than 
from  cause.  I  can  have  no  canse  while  yon  love  me,  but  at 
moments  when  your  bright  smile  is  not  upon  me,  what 
wonder  that  I  relapse  into  old  recollections? — and  when  I 
think,  dearest  that  we  are  not  yet  united,  and  that  so  many 
obstacles  are  before  us,  what  wonder  that  the  future  takej 
something  of  a  gloom  and  Avretchedness  of  the  past  ?  All 
fresh  and  buoyant  feelings  are  dried  up  within  me.  I  have 
not  the  spring  and  confidence  of  hope ;  and  I  have  the 
restlessness  of  thought  without  its  resources,  and  the  fever 
of  ambition  without  its  object. 

I  am  more  pleased  with  the  tale  I  am  writing  than  it 
deserves,  because  it  embodies  much  of  that  reflection  and 
philosophy  peculiar  to  myself.  No  future  occurrences  can 
ever  wholly  erase  from  the  mind  the  impression  of  one 
great  affliction  in  youth.  "The  wound  may  heal,"  said 
Rossean,  ''but  the  scar  remains." 

But  I  said  my  own  dear  and  sweet  Rose,  that  I  would 
not  infect  you  with  my  hypochondria,  and  yet  I  am  so  willing 
to  share  everything  with  you,  that  you  see  I  begin  already 
to  find  a  difficulty  in  keeping  my  promise  !  one  thing  I 
know,  that  if  your  hand  were  in  mine,  or  if  my  lip  touched 
yours,  I  siiould  have  no  gloom,  no  sorrow,  no  forebodings 
for  the  future,  no  regret  for  the  past.  I  should  bo  only 
alive  to  one  sweet  and  passionate  delirium,  and  that  should 
be  the  present. 

You  will  not,  my  adored  friend,  have  cause  to  scold  me 
for  delay  in  writing  again.  The  fault  was  always  in  the 
messengers ;  but  I  am  going  to  have  the  character  of  a 
servant  to-morrow,  who  shall  be  our  express  post.  I  can- 
nut  express  to  you  how  grieved  I  am  that  you  did  not 
receive  my  letter  before. 

Pray,  darling,  do  not  make  yourself  uneasy  about  me ; 
it  is  so  sweet  to  be  the  object  of  your  anxiety  that  I  am 


54  Lord  Lyttoiis  Letters. 

half  reluctant  to  tell  you  that  I  am  much  better.  The 
pain  ill  my  heart  has  been  routed  and  put  to  flight  by  my 
most  high  and  mighty  Rose  Regina ;  and  if  it  wore  not  for 
the  thoughts  of  you  and  my  beautiful  love,  some  anticipa- 
tion of  the  first  of  December,  for  which  you  must  forgive 
me, — if  it  were  not  for  these,  I  make  no  doubt  that  I 
should  sleep  well  to-night,  and  wake  to-morrow  ready  to  be 
"in  every  flight  thine  own  true  knight.'' 

And  did  I  miss  seeing  you  yesterday  ?  "Were  you  so 
near  me — only  few  yards  distant,  and  I  not  know  it  ?  Oh, 
my  treacherous  heart,  for  not  instinctively /eeZi'w^  that  you 
were  by ! 

God  bless  you,  my  kind  and  most  dear  love,  and  grant 
it  may  be  in  my  power  to  thank  you  for  your  affection  with 
my  life  !  I  am  quite  loath  to  leave  off,  and  yet  I  know,  as 
it  is  getting  late,  you  would  be  angry  if  I  did  not.  But 
oh  !  one  word  more,  and  that  is  to  thank  you  with  and  from 
my  very  heart  of  hearts  for  going  to  Abernethy.  I  am  so 
truly  grateful  for  it.  I  intend  us,  dearest,  to  live  to  a  great 
age,  and  to  keep  always  young  by  our  love,  that  real  elixir 
of  life.  Well,  good  night !  I  am  not  going  to  part  with  you, 
for  I  am  going  to  see  you  in  my  dreams.  E.  L.  B. 

Saturday  morning. — I  am  better,  much  better  this 
morning.  I  did  see  you  last  night,  and  I  kissed  those 
beautiful  Rose  leaves  till  our  lips  grew  together  ;  and  then 
they  tried  to  part  us,  but  they  could  not ;  and  the  scene 
changed,  and  we  were  by  a  bright,  bright  sea,  and  all  alone. 
Riddle  my  riddle,  love.  You  have  looked  on  this  day  with 
one  of  your  best  looks,  and  lo,  it  smiles  !  Once  more  good- 
bye, Rose,  my  dear,  kind  beautiful  Rose — all,  all  yours, 
you  will  get  tljis,  I  hope,  before  you  go  to  Miss  Spcnce's.* 

*  Tliis  letter  is  endorsed  by  Lady  Lytton  thus  : — "  Alas  !  alas  !  I 
did  indeed  overrate  bis  character  greatly,  to  think  that  one  so  hollow, 
false,  and  vicious  had  one  redeeming  point.— Re-reud  August  19th, 
1851." 


Lord  Lyttoiis   Letters.  55 


XXII. 

To  Miss  Wheeler,  40,  Somerset  Street. 
[Duke  of  Hamilton.] 

Very  well,  Miss  Rosina !  find  fault  with  my  letters. 
''Too  pretty/'  forsooth  !  When  yonr  own  conscience  tells 
yon  that  I  never  wrote  you  a  pretty  word  in  my  life.  My 
letters  are  as  ugly  and  as  stupid  as  Mr.  O'Neil.  You 
remember  the  elegant  proverbialism,  of  the  inutility  of 
carrying  coals  to  Newcastle,  and  with  that  English  adage 
before  my  eyes  how  do  you  think  I  could  be  so  foolish  as  to 
send  prettiness  to  you  !  Fie,  Rose  !  I  thought  you  knew 
my  character  better  than  to  suppose  I  should  take  so  super- 
fluous a  trouble.  But  this  is  not  the  only  charge  you  have 
brought  against  my  epistolary  communications.  "  I  am 
too  much  addicted  to  Avriting  two  sheets  and  an  envelope." 
Very  flattering  to  make  that  a  crime  !  However,  it  is  easi- 
ly altered.  As  for  the  omission  of  the  parentheses,  here  is 
one  which  I  intend  to  be  a  particularly  clear,  explanatory, 
satisfactory  parenthesis  to  elucidate  all  others  yet  given  and 
make  up  for  all  not  yet  given — le  void — (youth — life — 
nerve — heart — soul),  observe,  dearest,  all  the  treasures 
expressed  and  included  in  that  simple  token  which  none 
but?«  can  wholly  appreciate  and  undei-stand.  Four  times 
have  I  passed  by  your  house  co-day,  but  like  Cardinal  Beau- 
fort, "you  made  no  sign."  I  suppose  you  were  at  your 
mother's.  Do  tell  me  her  number  in  Manchester  Street. 
It  is  very  odd  how  love  reconciles  contradictions.  I  have, 
in  those  four  times  of  passing  and  repassing,  taken  No.  40, 
Somerset  Street,  in  my  way  to  Bond  Street,  to  Waterloo 
Place,  to  Portland  Place,  and  in  my  way  home  from  the 
city  to  Cavendish  Square.  Who  but  me  would  have  found 
iluit  the  siiortcst  and  indeed  the  only  road  to  and  from  all 


56  Lord  Ly  I  toils   Letters. 

parts  of  London  ?  I  had  a  note  from  Lady  Caroline  to-day. 
In  a  P.  S.  she  says  :  "  Do  you  ever  see  Miss  Wheeler  or 
Miss  Spence  ?  Tell  thorn,  if  you  do,  that  I  quite  pine  for 
their  society."  She  also  says  she  shall  not  leave  till  the 
14th.     How  then  will  she  he  at  Miss  Spcncu's  ? 

I  met  that  very  duke  of  very  dukes,  His  Grace  of 
Hamilton,  to-day,  as  courteously  great  as  ever.  I  told  him 
that  I  had  at  last  found  some  one  as  heautiful  as  the  duch- 
ess, and  he  said  so  prettily  :  "  Then  I  shall  soon  have  to 
wish  you  joy,  and  not  from  commonjjJace  but  sincerity." 

Pray,  St.  James'  Palace,  and  ye  two  sentries  who  guard 
it,  ye  who  witnessed  our  short  conversation,  did  I,  at  that 
speech — did  I,  or  did  I  not  ? — look  foolish  ?  At  this 
instant  (I  love  letting  people  know  what  I  am  about)  I  am 
listening  to  the  cracking  of  walnuts  with  my  right  ear,  and 
to  that  beautiful  chorus  in  Dcr  FreiscMliz  (played  under 
the  window)  with  my  left.  Villiers  is  reading  by  a  very 
sleepy  English-looking  fire,  and  a  small  black  terrier  is 
scraping  acquaintance  with  me  through  the  medium  of  a 
detestably  hard  biscuit.  I  love  dogs,  if  it  were  only  for 
Bijou's  sake  ;  had  it  not  been  for  him,  should  we  be  so  silly 
now  ?  Ah,  Mavourneen,  how  pretty  you  were  that  night ! 
I  did  not  intend  to  give  you  more  than  one  sheet  and 
envelope  to-night,  but  see,  how  you  have  decoyed  me  ! 
Oh  !  a  thousand  thanks  for  the  volume  of  Byron.  I  will 
mark  my  favorite  passages  with  a  pencil,  happy  and  too 
proud  to  see  how  many  agree  with  yours.  You  are  very 
wrong  to  try  and  make  me  so  vain  by  your  panegyrics ; 
your  love  has  turned  my  head  so  that  your  praise  may  turn 
it  quite  round  again  ;  and  then  it  will  be  in  the  ?ame  place 
as  it  was  before,  i.  e.,  before  you  loved  me,  a  consummation 
1  by  no  means  devoutly  wish  for.  Do  you,  my  pretty 
philosopher  and  puffer  ?  I  shall  write  to-morrow,  when  I 
have  received  Murray's  answer,  which  I  know  be  unfavor- 
able.    I  don't  even   think   he   will  look  over  the  MS. 


Lord  Lyttons  Letters.  57 

Good-bye — Oh  that  divine  drinking  song  in'  Der  Frei- 
schiltz  is  just  begun — I  intend  to  learn  music  next  week), 
good-bye,  my  dearest  girl,  my  own  Rose,  and  my  only  love. 
Pray,  pray,  pray  come  to  see  me  in  my  dreams.  Oh,  Rose, 
I  do,  DO,  DO  love  you  so  !     Adieu  ! 

Ever  yours,  from  and  with  all  my  heart, 

E.  Lttton  Bulwee. 

Half-imst  8  o'clock. 

XXIII. 

To  Miss  R.  D.  Wheelek. 

[His  nature,  hatred  and  bitterness — bcr's,  love  and  tenderness.] 

My  own  Darling,  Angel,  Poodle, — Though  mo  Is  going 
to  write  a  line,  yet  me  will  write  that  one,  to  say  how  me 
does  love  and  adore  and  doat  on  00,  for  00  is  such  a  dear, 
dear  girl  that  the  more  me  think  of  00  the  more  me  does 
worship  00  ;  and  however  silly  00  may  be  (or  think  ooself) 
about  me,  me  is  ten  million  times  more  so  about  00,  for  00 
nature  is  love  and  tenderness,  and  kind  and  warm  and 
generous  feeling  ;  and  my  nature,  is  hatred  and  bitterness, 
and  selfishness,  and  therefore  to  love  is  a  greater  merit  and 
miracle  in  me  than  in  00.  Good-bye,  my  own  dearest, 
dearest  Poodle,  whom  I  do  love  and  worship  above  all 
power,  passion,  or  comprehension.  Puppy. 

XXIV. 

To  Miss  Wheeler. 

[His  only  hope  and  comforter.] 

My  Dearest  Love  And  Angel, — Me  is  very,  very 
wretched,  that  00  is  in  pain.  For  heaven's  sake  take  care 
of  ooself  ;  me  knows  very  well  that  me  was  in  the  wrong  if 
me  gave  00  any  uneasiness  ;  but  for  God's  sake,  my  own 
dear,  kind  love,  do  not  wring  my  heart  so   by  desponding. 


58  Lord  Lyttons  Letters. 

Avlion  me  should  be  supremely  happy,  if  00  found  all  things 
bright ;  and  oh,  my  own  darling  Rose,  my  only  hope  and 
comforter,  and  olive  branch,  in  this  dark  cold,  bitter  world, 
do  remember  how  necessary,  how  vital  you  are  to  my  exist- 
ence, and  nurse  yourself  till  I  can  wreathe  my  arms  round 
you  and  find  you  Home-Shelter,  however  rugged,  in  a  heart 
which  has  never — no,  not  for  one  moment — meditated 
unkindness  or  ingratitude  to  you.  I  write  in  great  haste, 
as  I  am  not  alone.  Forgive  me  if  I  do  not  say  all  I  feel  in 
answer  to  your  note. 

Farewell,  my  Poodle  !  God  bless  you,  and  under  all 
change  and  circumstances  repay  you  for  the  happiness  your 
love  has  given  me. 

Puppy. 
XX7. 

To  Miss  Wheeler. 

[A  cold. — Convinced  of  Murray's  Answer.] 

My  Dearest  Love. — I  was  very  unwell  last  night  or 
would  have  written  you.  It  is,  you  will  allow,  better  not 
to  wi'ite  at  all,  than  to  communicate  something  unpleasant. 
I  am  better  this  morning,  and  I  hope  soon  to  be  quite 
recovered.  I  would  send  you,  love,  the  verses  you  ask  for; 
but  they  are  not  yet  made,  and  I  would  make  them  if  I  did 
not  feel  so  particularly  stupid.  I  did  not  think  a  cold  was 
so  great  an  obfuscation  of  the  interlect.  I  am  sure  that 
Napoleon  never  planned  stratagems  or  slaughters  (observe 
the  alliteration),  under  the  influence  of  a  rheumal  or 
catarrhic  disorder,  and  I  believe  that  I  once  heard  his  great 
rival,  Mr.  Brummcl,  was  never  visible  during  any  of  those 
ordinary  English  distempers.  As  for  mo,  I  find  a  cold  so 
productive  of  heat  (or  rather,  Kose,  is  not  the  recollection 
of  you  the  cause  of  the  fever  ?)  that  I  expect,  if  my  Caloric 
goes  on  increasing,  gradually  to  melt  into  vapour  ;  so  dear- 
est, if  you  see  anything  of  a  fog  hanging  about  No.  40, 


Lord  Lyttons  Letters,  59 

Somerset  Street,  you  will  be  able  to  recognize  the  vaporized 
remains  of  your  unfortunate  Adorer.  I  found  your  glove, 
Rose  what  a  pity  tournaments  no  longer  exist !  Think, 
most  peerless  and  sunlike  damsel,  what  a  short  road  thy 
own  true  knight  would  have  found  to  fame  who  the  highest 
glory  was  to  be  the  most  faithful  Champion  of  the  most 
beautiful  lady.  Have  you  seen  the  Morning  Herald  for 
to-day  ?  There  is  an  excellent  squib  therein  called  the 
Ghost  of  Miltiadcs.  Talking  of  Miltiades,  the  alliteration 
puts  me  in  mind  of  Murray.  I  intend  to  call  on  him  to- 
day ;  and  yet  I  am  so  fully  convinced  of  his  answer,  that  I 
feel  quite  indolent  about  the  matter.  I  had  the  satisfaction 
of  being  reminded  of  you  by  that  liair — you  recollect  it. 
How  singularly  beautiful  your's  is,  by-the-bye  !  Apro- 
pos  of  Beauty,  the  initial  letter  reminds  me  of  Miss  Benger. 
I  want  to  call  there.  Can  I  noc  call  there  some  day  when 
you  do  ?  Let  me  know.  You  must  forgive  my  leaving  off 
now.  God  bless  you,  my  own,  own,  dear,  dearest  love. 
Ever  and  Wholly,  and  only  yours, 

E.  L.  B. 

XXVI. 

To  Miss  Wheeler,  40,  Somerset  Street. 
[The  mendicant  who  had  just  buried  her  children.] 

Well,  my  love,  is  it  well?  Are  you  free  from  pain  ?  Is 
your  beautiful  face  quite  recovered  ?  In  short,  are  you 
everything  I  wish  as  much  as  everything  I  admire  ?  In 
truth,  that  is  rather  a  comprehensive  question,  and  one 
which  your  modesty  will  perhaps  decline  answering  ;  so  it 
shall  be  left  in  the  shape  of  a  riddle  to  be  solved  after 
marriage.  Diary  of  a  lover, — imprimis — woke  about  eight 
o'clock — put  my  cap  on  one  side,  and  said,  "Rose."  Felt 
the  pillow — embraced — nothing,  and  sighed  ;  turned  round 


6o  Lord  Lyttons  Letters. 

and  meditated  on  dark  hair  and  white  bosoms  tiJl  nine, 
when  a  gentle  tap  was  heard  at  the  door,  and  a  small,  not 
too  slender  girl  ei)tered.  Flaxen  hair,  blue  eyes,  dark 
lashes,  small  teeth,  full  lips,  and  a  pretty  colour,  that  went 
and  came  like  a  sigh.  **  She  is  very  pretty,"  said  I  to  myself. 
"Kot  at  all !"  said  myself  to  I,  "for  she  is  not  Eose." 
"  True,"  said  I ;  and  thereupon  I  turned  on  the  other  side. 
No  sooner  had  the  damsel  departed,  than  I  began  to  make 
a  great  stir — sure  token  of  approaching  determination.  In 
the  next  moment  one  leg  was  solemnly  marched  forth,  and 
the  other,  emulating  its  progress,  followed  it  with  due 
rapidity.  Had  Eose  been  hero,  thought  the  head  which  the 
said  legs  supported,  I  might  not  have  moved  with  such  celer- 
ity. True,  King  Agrippa  thought  another  thought  in  that 
wise  head.  Therewas  then  a  long  pause  by  the  fire.  My  serv- 
ant entered,  and  the  work  of  dressing  commenced.  No 
sooner  was  the  blue  dressing-gown  of  Mortimerian  notori- 
ety inducted,  than  a  waiter,  whom  I  have  particularly 
ordered  to  attend  me,  because — refreshing  sight — he  is 
thinner  than  myself,  opened  the  door.  "  The  bath  is 
ready,  sir ;"  and  to  the  bath  I  went.  There  I  lay  musing 
over  a  little  dog  called  ''Poodle "for  half  an  hour,  and 
was  then  rubbed  dry  and  conducted  back  to  my  sitling- 
room.  While  I  was  discussing  my  solitary  roll  (by-thc-bye, 
there  were  some  Miss  Eolls  at  Brighton,  who  had  been  at 
Paris,  and  whom  people  called  ''  French  Eolls  "),  my  serv- 
ant informed  me  that  my  brother  was  much  worse.  .  .  . 
I  had  just  ordered  my  horse  to  be  in  readiness  at  twelve  to 
go  to  Kncbworth,  and  had  set  my  hand  on  a  certain  letter 
— a  fac  simile  of  which  is  generally  found  on  my  table — 
"  breathing  of  sweet  south,"  when  the  news  greeted  me.  I 
ran  hastily  over  tlie  letter,  thrust  it  into  my  bosom,  and 
went  up  to  Henry.     I  found   him  very  low-spirited,  and 


Lord  Lyttoiis  Letters.  6i 

wishing  me  to  stay  Avith  him  till  day.  This  1  could  not,  of 
course,  refuse  to  do  ;  so  I  unordered  the  preparations  for 
my  departure,  and  stayed  with  him  till  Ihe  closeness  of  the 
room  made  me  even  worse  than  himself.  So,  finding  he 
was  inclined  to  sleep,  I  sent  for  my  horse,  and  about  three 
o'clock  I  trotted  off  on  the  St.  Albans'  road.  As  I  got  out 
of  London,  and  its  eternal  purlieus  of  Paradise  Eows  and 
Mount  Pleasants,  I  felt  the  free  air  come  over  me,  pure 
and  fresh,  like  the  kisses  I  love  the  most ;  so  as  everything 
beautiful  and  welcome  reminds  me  of  you,  I  began  to 
dream  over  first  one  charm  and  then  another,  till  I  had 
fairly  thought  you  all  over.  I  rode  on  till  the  day  grew 
darker,  and  then  turned  back,  as  all  woi'ldly  people  do  turn 
back,  when  the  course  they  Avere  pursuing  seems  one  beam 
less  bright. 

"  Pray,  sir,  for  God's  sake,''  said  an  old  woman  in  a 
mendicant  attitude,  "lam  in  such  distress;  Ihave  just 
hwied  my  children."  '^You  are  too  happy, ^^  said  I,  with 
a  congratulatory  air,  and  trotted  onwards. 

"When  I  got  to  town,  1  found  I  had  still  an  hour  to 
dinner,  and  knowing  that  Henry  would  not  want  me  till 
then  ;  Iwent  down  to  my  club.  There  I  tossed  over  the 
papers,  and  saw  nothing  worth  noticing,  except  that  a 
Colonel  Darling  was  married.  Any  relation  to  you,  love  ? 
By  the  time  I  arrived  home,  Henry  was  a  great  deal 
better,  and  I  now  take  the  advantage  of  his  being  consoled 
with  brighter  companions  to  write  this  to  you. 

I  hope,  my  own,  own  love,  that  you  are  quite,  quite 
well.  I  send  you  1,000,000  kisses.  Is  oo  not  too  pretty, 
and  docs  me  not  love  oo  too  much  ?  Answer  me,  my 
beauty.  How  is  oo  looking  ?  Me  loves  to  know  how  every 
ringlet  is  disposed,  whether  you  are  smiling  or  sighing, 
whether  your  beautiful  neck  is  bare,  whether  you  have  on 
that  jiretty  handkerchief;  in  short,  me  would  like  to  know 


62  Lord  Lyttofis  Letters, 

every  single  particular  about  oo,  my  own  darling,  the  same 
silly,  doting,  adoring  Puppy  till  death.  I  would  write 
more,  but  am  suddenly  called  to  Henry. 

XXVII. 

To  Miss  Wheelee,  40,  Somerset  Street. 

[Cockburn. — Relations.l 
My  Darling,  Darling,  Darling  Angel, — I  have  been 
writing  all  the  day,  and  have  only  been  able  to  get  through 
sixty  pages.  Perhaps  I  may  do  more  before  I  go  to  bed ; 
but  I  am  tired  and  mindful  of  oo  advice  to  take  care  of 
myself,  because  I  am  anxious  oo  should  follow  mine,  and 
take  care  of  oo  self.  What  a  wretched  day  this  has  been  ! 
Cockburn  has  been  here  to  dinner.  How  oo  will  like  him 
by-and-bye  !  Such  warm-breathing  kindness  of  heart ! 
But  after  all,  nothing  is  lovable  but  oo ;  and  oo  is  made  all 
np  of  love,  and  kisses  and  fragrance  and  sweet  wishes,  etc. 
Ah  !  Poodle,  mine,  we  must  not  linger  over  this,  because 
it  gets  very  late,  and  oo  is  anxious  to  have  this,  is  oo  not, 
my  darling?  Oh  !  Zoo  bootj',  zoo  dear,  dear  love!  Me 
likes  all  oo  relations  very  much  ;  me  wishes  oo  could  say  so 
of  mine,  but  oo  will  when  oo  knows  ^em.  How  is  oo 
pretty  darling  face  ?  And  will  oo  have  that  pretty  hand- 
kerchief round  oo  beautiful  face,  like  a  cloud  round  the 
evening  star  ?  God  bless  oo,  my  dear,  dear  love ;  sleep 
well,  and  dream  of  oo  Puppy. 

XXVIII. 

To  Miss  Wheelee,  40,  Somerset  Street. 

[Setting  ofE  with  Cockburn.] 

My  Dearest  Angel — Love, — Me  has  been  out  all  day, 

me  sets  off  to-morrow  with  Cockburn.     Then,  Poodle,  are 

two  truths  plainly  and  concisely  stated.     Now  for  a  third. 

Me  loves  and  adores  and  doates  on  oo.     Me  thinks  oo  the 


Lord  Lyttons  Letters.  63 

greatest  darling  that  ever  existed,  or  can  exist,  and  me 
intends  to  love  00  with  all  my  heart  and  soul  all  my  life. 
Me  now  is  going  out,  not  being  in  the  best  spirits  in  the 
world,  and  not  having  00  near  me  to  console  me.  Yet,  in 
spite  of  all  things,  I  feel  one  rapturous  burning  intense 
hope,  which  consoles  and  supports  me  through  all.  Need 
me  tell  00  what  that  is  ?  Zoo  beauty  !  Zoo  darling  !  oh  ! 
how,  how,  how  me  does  love  and  doat  on  00  !  Keep  well, 
my  own  poodle  ;  sleep  well  and  dream  of  00  own  Puppy, 
loliose  own  00  will  shortly  he.  Poodle,  me's  in  love  with  00 
nice,  fine,  good  uncle.  Is  00  Jealous?  He  is  the  nicest 
person  that  ever  was,  is,  or  ever  can  be. 

(Signed)         Puppy. 

XXIX. 

To  Miss  K.   Wheeler,  At  the  Honorable  Wm.  Lamb's, 
Brocket  Hull,  Herts. 

[Spoken  to  his  mother  about  "  my  marriage." — Plans  for  the 
future. — Power  and  reputation. — Literature  and  politicB. — 
This  servile  and  aristocratic  country. — Buy  a  seat  in  the  House 
of  Commons. — His  talent  for  public  speaking. — DilBdence  of 
literary  success. — Another  secret  power  more  valuable  than  any 
other.] 

Sept.  6th,  182G. 
In  my  way  to  town  yesterday,  I  met  my  mother,  and 
returned  to  Knebworth  with  her,  but  before  four  o'clock 
this  morning  I  rode  up  here,  in  the  eager  expectation  of 
your  letter.  I  went  at  once  to  my  club.  Imagine  my  joy 
when  I  recognized  your  handwriting.  I  put  the  letter 
next  my  heart  ;  I  would  not  open  it  till  I  found  myself 
alone.  And  now,  how  shall  I  answer  it  ?  How  shall  I 
express  the  mingled  and  indescribable  feelings  with  which 
1  read  and  treasured  in  my  heart  every  line  and  word 
which  had  been  traced  by  you.  The  confidence  you  ]ilacc 
in  me  you  shall  never  repent ;  and  though  you  will  not 


64  Lord  Lyttons  Letters. 

speak  to  mc  too  sanguinely  of  the  future,  yet  I  elierisli  as 
the  most  precious  of  my  hopes  that  of  rendering  it  to  you 
a  recompense  for  whatever  you  have  suffered  in  the  past. 
I  speak  to  you  my  adored  friend,  from  my  soul  when  I 
assure  you  that  all  the  prospects,  jour^uits,  aspirations  of 
which  you  tell  me,  Avould  not  equal  in  my  mind  the  one 
irrivilcge  of  mahing  you  happy,  and  that  the  schemes 
whicli  I  shall  in  the  course  of  this  letter  detail  to  you, 
could  present  me  nothing  to  replace  the  loss  of  the  one  for 
whom  I  have  formed  tliem,  and  who  could  alone  give  its 
value  to  success.  I  have  spoken  to  my  mother  in  general 
terms  of  any  marriage  I  may  subsequently  form,  and  I 
have  this  answer,:  "  Distingnish  yourself,  and  I  will  ask 
from  you  no  consequence  reflected  from  your  wife.  When 
you  have  succeeded  in  public  life,  I  promise  you  that; 
motley  alone  shall  never  make  me  withdraw  my  consent  to 
your  marriage."  Now  tell  me,  Eosina,  if  I  have  not  every 
reason  to  be  sanguine,  with  the  single  exception  of  money, 
could  I  find  any  person  who  could  satisfy  like  you  the 
warmest  expectations  even  of  a  mother  ?  You  are  the  only 
person  now  living  whom  I  feel  froud  of  loving.  I  feel 
that  I  enoblc  myself  in  doing  homage  to  you.  You  say  in 
your  first  letter  that  you  will  lose  in  the  world  by  a  com- 
parison with  other  women.  Show  me  any  other  who  com- 
bines your  personal  and  mental  attractions,  and  I  Avill 
consent  to  love  you  no  longer.  Till  then,  can  you  wonder 
at  my  impudence  9  Now,  then,  I  Avill  speak  to  you  myself, 
and  of  the  plans  I  have  laid  down.  Whatever  in  future  I 
design,  I  shall  submit  to  your  aj)probation  and  advice. 
Henceforth,  in  my  eyes,  we  shall  have  but  one  interest. 

There  are  two  sorts  of  distinction  to  bo  gained — poiuer 
and  repulatioji.  Mr.  Canning,  for  instance,  has  the 
former  ;  Mr.  Muore,  the  latter.  In  naming  these  persons 
you  Avill  sec  at  once  that  reputation  is  obtained  (in  the 
liighest  degree)  l>y  exertion  in  literature,  and  power  almost 


Lord  Lytto7is  Letters.  65 

solely  by  devotion  to  politics.  Now  ii;  is  our  object  to 
obtain  jjoiver  rather  than  reputation ;  the  latter  gratifies 
vanity,  not  pride;  it  gives  eclat,  but  no  real  importance. 
In  this  servile  and  aristocratic  country  v/e  must  make  to 
ourselves  a  more  independent  and  commanding  rank.  For 
myself  I  should  not  care  a  straw  about  the  fame  of  string- 
ing couplets  and  making  books  ;  and  for  you,  for  whom 
alone  I  covet  distinction,  I  would  wish  to  find  a  station 
and  a  destiny  more  worthy  of  your  chiiras  to  admiration. 
Literary  honors  are  not,  therefore,  so  desirable  as  political 
rank  ;  but  they  must  not  for  that  reason  be  despised  ;  they 
are  the  great  stepping-stones  to  our  more  ultimate  object. 
To  get  j90?yer  I  must  be  in  the  House  of  Commons.  To 
obtain  my  seat  there,  I  must  pay  a  certain  sum  of  money — 
I  find  either  a  large  sum  at  once,  or  a  proportionate  sum  a 
year.  The  former  is  too  precarious.  Parliament  may  be 
dissolved  the  next  day,  and  my  mother  would  only  assist 
me  once  in  tlie  purchase.  It  remains,  therefore,  to  pay 
the  annual  sum.  This  is  a  difficult  pi-oceeding  ;  not  done 
without  some  interest,  because,  though  connived  at,  it  is 
illegal. 

I  find,  however,  that  it  can  be  done  through  the 
ministry  for  £1,100  a  year  ;  and  directly  I  can  raise  that 
sum  I  can  enter  the  House.  My  mother  will  pay  £600  a 
year  only — the  remaining  £500  I  must,  therefore,  make 
up  myself.  I  can  spare  nothing  from  my  present  income, 
and  this  deficiency  I  therefore  hope  to  supply  by  writing. 
The  age  is  luckily  generous  to  authors.  Grattan,  who 
wrote  "  Highways  atid  Byetoays,"  makes  £1,000  a  year. 
I  do  not  think  I  arrogate  too  much  when  I  lay  claim  to  the 
half  of  his  literary  abilities.  I  shall  therefore,  directly  the 
winter  begins,  commence  regular  author.  Fancy  me  in 
"foolscap  livery,"  etc.!  If  my  works  succeed,  in  the 
course  of  the  winter,  I  expect  before  the  end  of  that  same 
Spring  to  be  in  the  House.     Then  I  consider  the  road  clear. 


66  Lord  Lytto?is  Letters. 

If  I  have  any  ability  less  inconsiderable  than  another,  any 
one  of  which  I  luive  devoted  the  most  time,  labour, 
thought,  patience,  any  one  in  which  I  surmounted  the  dis- 
advantages of  nature,  and  acquired  the  powers  of  art,  it  is 
the  talent  of  public  speaking.  For  three  years  I  practised 
it  constantly,  for  the  greatest  part  of  that  time  with  the 
most  wretched  success.  Never  was  there  anything  truer 
than  Cicero's  observation,  that  if  the  poet  is  born  the  orator 
is  made  ;  but  I  did  succeed  at  last,  and  with  such  a  success 
as  to  justify  my  most  sanguine  expectations.  If  by  the 
money  earned  in  literary  exertion  I  can  get  into  the  House, 
the  reputation  which  must  necessarily  go  with  the  money 
will  very  materially  shorten  and  facilitate  the  road  to  our 
wishes,  but  I  will  own  that  I  am  very,  very  diffident  of 
literary  success.  That  is  the  great  and  first  step,  and  I  will 
not  disguise  from  you  that  it  is  by  far  the  most  arduous. 
But  fortune  never  deserted  the  resolute — to  dare  to  win. 
There  is  another  power  I  possess,  still  more  valuable  then 
the  art  of  speaking,  still  more  valuable  than  any  ability  or 
talent  I  could  possibly  derive  from  nature  ;  this  makes 
almost  sure  my  success  in  the  House,  and  of  its  nature  I  will 
tell  you  in  another  letter.  It  is  a  great  and  important 
secret,  which  no  ojie  has  yet  known,  and  the  value  of  which 
your  mind  will  perceive  in  an  instant.  It  will  show  you 
still  further  the  more  hidden  recesses  of  my  powers,  such  as 
they  may  be  !  and — but  enough  of  this  for  the  present.  I 
have  already  bored  you  too  much. 

With  what  softness  of  heart  I  turn  from  these  worldly 
visions,  only  dear  to  me  as  connected  with  you,  and  dwell 
only  upon  your  remembrance.  Oh  !  that  I  could  express  a 
tenth  part  of  the  love  which  I  bear  for  you,  which  has 
penetrated  as  it  were  into  my  very  existence,  and  constitutes 
the  divincst  and  most  sacred  portion  of  my  soul.  Write  to 
me,  I  beseech  you ;  every  word  I  receive  from  you 
strengthens  my  resolutions ;  your  image  is  indeed  to  me 


Lord  Lyttons  Letters.  67 

like  a  consolatiou  and  a  guide  ;  it  redeems  me  from  the 
past,  it  smiles  to  me  from  the  future  ;  it  sheds  a  new  light 
over  existence,  and  breathes  into  my  spirit  a  new  capacity 
for  enjoying  it.  My  plans  for  the  moment  are  not  yet 
decided  ;  before  I  leave  London  for  good  I  shall  come  for 
an  hour  or  two  to  Brocket  to  see  you.  Adieu,  my  dearest 
friend. 

I  am  yours /ro/H  and  ivitli  all  my  soul. 
Athenaeum.  E.  Lyttoit  Bulwer. 

XXX. 

To  Miss  Rosin'A  "Wheeler,  At  the  Hon'ble  W.  Lamb's, 
Brocket  Hall,  Welwyn,  Herts. 

[Her  attachment  ardently  returned  but  ill  repaid. — Remorse. — Sub- 
ject to  disease  in  the  heart. — Utterly  incurable. — A  retreat  from 
the  censure  of  prudes. — Gloom  and  despondency. — Passion. — 
Danger. — Alone  upon  the  world  again. — Farewell  for  ever.] 

Wednesday/,  Seiyt.  13th,  1826. 
I  am  detained  in  town  a  day  or  two  longer  than  I  had 
expected.  My  direction  will  be  at  the  Post  Office,  Chelten- 
ham ;  but  I  ought  not  to  wish  to  hear  from  you,  and  I  sifc 
down  to  write  under  the  full  impression  that  your  happi- 
ness requires  that  this  should  be  the  last  of  our  correspond- 
ence. Never  for  a  moment,  since  that  last  evening  I  saw 
you,  have  I  ceased  to  reproach  myself.  Never  once  have  I 
ceased  to  recall  those  tears,  every  one  of  which  went  to  my 
very  heart.  I  sat  by  you  almost  in  silence.  I  could  scarcely 
attempt  to  console  you.  What  was  my  conviction  at  that 
moment  ?  That  in  desiring  your  happiness  I  had  only 
prepared  your  misery,  I  became  fully  aware  of  the  feelings 
I  had  not  even  analyzed  before.  The  sickness  of  hope 
deferred,  the  weariness  of  pursuits  which  the  heart  loathed 
while  the  head  conceived,  the  labour  of  years  and  waste  of 
youth  in  the  occupations  which  should  belong  only  to  age. 


68  Lord  Lyttons  Letters. 

doubt  and  uncertainty  at  the  best,  the  probability  of  disap- 
pointment, the  possibility  of  treachery  ;  to  all  these  I  had 
looked  forward  as  tny  fate,  and  all  these  I  felt  that  I  could 
bear.  But  I  had  not  reflected  on  the  lot  I  was  preparing  for 
you.  I  did  not  remember  that  the  best  and  most  beautiful 
years  of  your  life  might  j)o.3sibly  pass  away  in  the  vain  expec- 
tation of  an  uncertain  future  ;  that  you  would  have  the 
anxiety,  the  fear,  the  separation — but  not  the  union — the 
consolation,  the  enjoyment  of  love.  I  did  not  remember  that 
I  was  wasting  the  affections  which  you  might  have  bestowed 
freely  and  happily  on  another,  and  that  if  at  last  our  hopes 
should  be  destroyed,  and  our  separation  rendered  final,  that 
I  should  have  embittered  your  youth  without  finding  a 
recompense  for  your  later  years,  your  attachment  to  me 
{returned  indeed  how  ardently,  but  repaid  how  ill)  would 
have  prevented  your  forming  ties  under  auguries  more 
auspicious,  years  not  to  be  recalled  would  have  been  dark- 
ened, and  opportunities  of  happiness  and  independence 
suffered  to  escape  which  it  would  be  no  longer  in  the 
chances  of  the  future  to  renew.  All  this,  if  you  link  your 
fate  with  mine,  you  must  have  the  misery  to  fear  :  all  this 
is  possible  you  may  suffer,  and  /ought  to  shield  you  from 
the  smallest  evil,  I  shall  have  the  eternal  remorse  of  being 
the  cause  and  the  origin  of  all.  There  is  yet  another  uncer- 
tainty which  you  have  not  foreseen,  and  which,  from  the 
wish  to  avoid  the  vanity  of  creating  an  undue  and  fictitious 
interest  in  your  mind,  I  should  not  mention  if  I  did  not 
feel  that  I  owe  it  to  you  no  longer  to  conceal  it.  It  is  very, 
very  possible  that  I  may  die  before  I  could  obtain  the 
object  for  which  we  are  to  wait.  I  am  subject  to  a  disease 
in  the  heart,  which,  though  precarious  as  to  the  time  of  its 
ultimate  effect,  is  utterly  incurable,  and  may  terminate 
suddenly  at  no  very  distant  period.  What  then  would  be 
your  reflections,  and  what  your  reward  for  a  constancy  and 
devotion  which  even  my  life  could  not  have  repaid,  and 


Lord  Lyttons  Letters.  69 

wliicli,  if  bestowed  on  another,  would  have  ensured  you 
long  years  of  unclouded  happiness  ? 

"If  love  be  an  episode  in  men's  lives,  it  makes  indeed 
the  whole  historii  of  a  woman's/'  all  her  affections,  hopes 
desires,  all  the  treasures  of  her  nature  are  hoarded  tliere. 
And  there,  where  you  garner  up  your  heart,  let  it  not  be 
through  me  if  you  meet  with  disappointment  and  despair. 
Had  fortune  been  more  kind  to  either  of  us,  the  customs  of 
the  world  would  not  have  prevented  our  union.  Had  she 
been  less  so,  we  might  have  dispensed  with  the  customs 
themselves,  and  have  found  in  our  own  hearts  a  retreat 
from  the  censure  of  the  prudes  we  bad  offended.  As  it  is, 
oil  !  Rosina,  I  dare  not  look  to  the  future  any  longer ! 
Formerly  I  regarded  it  only  for  myself,  and  I  smiled  at 
every  evil  I  could  foresee.  Our  last  meeting  has  awakened 
me  from  selfishness  to  reflection.  I  now  look  to  the  here- 
after, and  I  tremble  at  the  prospect,  because  I  look  no 
longer  for  myself,  but  for  yoii.  Separate  yourself  from  me 
before  it  be  too  late,  and  your  affection  has  not  yet  become 
more  powerful  than  your  reason.  Many  bright  years  may 
be  in  store  for  you,  but  not  with  me.  I  know  from  the 
gloom  and  despondency  which  have  become  to  me  a  second 
nature,  I  know  that  I  am  fated  to  be  wretched  ;  avoid  me, 
shun  me,  and  be  happy  !  Oh  !  Rosina,  in  those  moments 
too  dear  for  words,  when  I  could  not  exj)ress  feeling  even 
by  a  murmur,  wlien  your  hand  was  in  mine,  when  I  felt  you 
breathe  upon  my  cheek,  wlien  I  pressed  my  lips  to  yours, 
can  you  think  those  moments  were  not  accompanied  with 
danger  ?  Can  you  tliink  that  I  love  you  only  with  the  ten- 
derness, and  not  also  with  the  passion  of  love  ?  Can  you 
think  in  those  moments  that  even  to  touch  did  not  light  a 
very  fire  witiiin  my  soul,  and  that  I  would  not  have  perished 
a  thousand  times  to  have  felt  for  one  instant  that  you  were 
all  my  own  ?  How,  in  spite  of  the  dictates  of  our  love,  and 
the  temptations  of  your  beauty,  how  could  we  remain  for 


70  Lord  Lyftons  Letters. 

months,  perhaps  for  years,  under  tlie  feeling  that  that  love 
was  not  perfected,  and  that  those  years  were  uuen joyed  ? 
My  own — you  are  yet,  though  for  uii  instant,  my  own — my 
adored  Rosina,  I  repeat  it,  divorce  yourself  from  my 
destiny,  forsake  me  and  be  hapjiy.  Save  yourself  from  a 
love  from  which  you  yourself  only  anticipate  disappoint- 
ment and  regret,  and  where  the  very  passion  that  can  alone 
afford  us  the  strengtli  to  hope  may  only  end  in  your  despair. 
I  write  incolierently,  for  I  reason  against  myself ;  but  you 
will  understand  and  appreciate  what  I  would  express.  laui 
alone,  alone  upon  the  world  again  !  All  seems  darkened 
before  me,  and  my  heart  seems  to  break  when  it  tears  itself 
from  its  latest  tie,  and  feels  that  in  bidding  you  farewell, 
your  own  happiness  demands  it  should  he  forever. 

E.  L.  BULWER. 

XXXI. 

Miss  Rosina  Wheelek,  40,   Somerset  Street,  Portman 
Square,  London. 

[Restless  irritability. — Visions  of  ambition. — Firm  possession  of 
resources  wbicli  no  other  in  this  country  can  command. — Deadly 
pulsation  of  heart. — Death. — Bitternesss  of  thought.— Penetrated 
the  hidden  recesses  of  truth. — No  hope  in  the  future.] 

Cheltenham,  Sept.  17th,  1836. 

Friday  niglit. 
It  is  past  two  !  I  have  been  answering  foreign  letters 
of  mucli  importance,  the  consideration  of  which,  as  they 
turn  on  one  of  the  most  intricate  political  questions,  has 
occupied  and  excited  me  into  a  restless  and  feverish  irri- 
tability. I  turn  from  these  to  the  sweet  and  soothing 
recollection  of  you.  It  is  since  I  have  derived  from  our 
attachment  some  object  in  awaking  them  that  I  have  been 
more  sensible  and  confident  of  whatever  powers  I  possess. 
I  have  given  myself  uj)  more  deeply  to  their  analysis  and 


Lord  Lyttofis  Letters.  71 

more  seriously  to  their  exertion.  I  have  looked  unshrink- 
ingly on  the  resources  I  command,  I  have  indulged  and 
revelled  in  the  visions  of  an  ambition  I  disregarded  before. 
I  have  gone,  when  (as  now)  in  the  loneliness  and  stillness 
of  night,  from  step  to  step,  till  I  have  stood  at  a  hight 
which,  however  idle  such  reveries  may  seem,  I  do  not  con- 
sider even  in  my  calmer  moments  too  difficult  either  to 
attain  or  secure.  Like  Castruccio  Castrucani,  I  have 
stretched  my  hands  to  the  east  and  the  west,  in  the  eager- 
ness and  daring  of  a  spirit  which  success  cannot  satisfy  nor 
failure  dismay  ;  but,  however  extended  might  be  the  vistas 
I  have  drawn,  I  have  closed  them  each  with  your  image, 
and  repose  on  your  remembrance  at  last.  Vanity  of 
vanities  !  Even  now  in  this  foolish  confidence  fulness  of  my 
pride,  in  the  firm  possession  of  resources  which  no  other  in 
my  country  can  command,  with  everything  to  justify  my 
conviction  of  attaining  those  objects  for  which  others  fritter 
away  life,  and  honour,  and  happiness  in  vain,  even  now  I 
stop  to  listen  to  the  deadly  pulsation  of  my  heart,  each  of 
those  heavy  and  feverish  throbs  comes  upon  me  like  a  knell, 
fraught  with  the  sense  and  certainty  and  warning  of  death. 
This  is  only  felt  in  moments  like  these  of  an  over  wrought 
excitation. 

Whenever  I  become  restless  and  agitated  for  the  future, 
this  proof  of  the  idleness  of  all  human  expectations  comes 
across  me ;  whenever  in  the  arrogance  of  self-conceit,  I 
would  aspire  to  the  loftier  objects  of  desire ;  whenever  I 
would  essay  some  proof  of  the  supposed  immortality  of  the 
mind,  I  am  brought  back  to  remember  the  certainty  and 
mortality  of  the  body. 

Like  the  Eastern  King  amidst  the  delirium  of  vanity  and 
the  conciousness  of  power,  a  voice  goes  forth  to  remind  mo 
that  I  must  die.  I  raise  my  eyes  towards  my  windows,  they 
look  upon  the  resting-jdace  of  the  dead.  Perhaps  there  is 
something  in  the  churchyard  of  a  place  like  this,  more 


72  Lord  Lyttons  Letters. 

associated  with  ludicrous  than  serious  ideas  ;  but  I  am  not 
now  disposed  to  jest  upon  cpitaplis  which  ignorance  or  levity 
have  converted  into  epigrams,  or  to  wrong  by  an  ill-seasoned 
merriment  the  mysterious  solemnity  of  deatb. 

There  is  not  one  beneath  tbose  mounds  of  earth  who  has 
not  burned  like  me  with  the  restless  ambition  of  his  hopes ; 
to  him  they  were  not  the  less  important  because  they  were 
more  confined.  His  aspirations  after  honor  or  emolument 
or  love  constituted  with  him,  as  witli  me,  the  spring  and 
spirit  of  his  existence;  the  action  of  tiie  lesser  machine 
does  not  differ  from  that  of  the  greater.  What  matters  it 
for  the  fever  of  his  life,  or  the  repose  of  his  death,  whether 
his  wishes  were  bounded  to  his  village,  or  whether  they 
knev/,  like  mine,  no  limits  but  tlie  world  ?  All  the  pomp 
of  epitaphs  but  maintains  while  it  strives  to  vary  the  monot- 
ony of  the  one  truth.  The  tomb  of  Napoleon  and  that  of 
his  meanest  countryman  say  the  same  : 

"  Igi  git."  But,  at  least,  those  who  now  sleep  beneath 
me  had  one  hope  of  which  I  am  debarred  ;  from  the  deceit 
and  turbulence  of  the  world  they  looked  for  a  haven  and  a 
security  above  ;  and  in  their  dreams  of  an  Eternal  Life  they 
forgot  tlie  darkness  and  triumphed  over  the  agony  o£ 
Death.  If  they  died  in  youth,  and  left  behind  them  the 
ties  and  affections  whicli  had  given  its  charm  to  existence, 
they  thought  not  of  the  separation  of  decay,  but  of  the 
union  of  eternity.  If  they  died  in  age,  they  turned  from  the 
cold  and  hollow  hearts,  which  surrounded  them,  ^'  in  the 
mockery  of  woe,"  to  the  remembrance  of  the  loved  they  had 
lost,  but  whom  they  were  about  to  rejoin.  To  either  of 
them  death  had  at  least  its  consolation,  and  the  dai-kness, 
the  corruption,  the  loathsomeness  of  the  grave  vanished, 
before  their  visions  of  the  rapture  and  immortality  of 
heaven.  But  for  me,  who  have  drained  to  its  dregs  the 
bitterness  of  thought  and  have  penetrated  into  the  more 
painful  and  hidden  recesses  of  the  truth,  to  me  all  such 


Lord  Lyttons  Letters.  73 

hope  seems  but  the  arch-mockery  of  our  existence.  There 
where  I  lie  shall  I  moulder  and  mingle  with  the  clay  which 
surrounds  me.  I  have  no  hope  for  that  mind  which  seems 
to  me  inseparable  with  the  body,  alike  in  its  life  and  its 
decay.  Darker  than  all,  I  have  no  hope  that  the  grave  will 
unite  me  to  those  from  v\^hom  I  shall  be  torn.  Love,  desire 
— all  which  now  thinks  feels,  burns,  maddens — within  me, 
find  both  their  origin  and  their  end  in  the  body.  "  Can 
tiie  dead  praise  thee,  0  Lord  ?"  In  the  grave  all  things  are 
forgotten.  But,  come  when  it  will,  I  am  prepared.  Li 
sufferings  or  in  death  I  shall  be  at  least  as  I  have  been.  I 
will  cringe  to  no  unseen  and  undefinable  power.  I  know 
of  no  resources  but  those  of  my  own  mind.  On  those  alone 
do  I  depend,  with  those  alone  will  I  meet  and  dare  whatever 
destiny  may  await  me.  The  soul  which  Avears  away  and 
consumes  can  also  support  us  till  its  fate  be  fulfilled.  The 
lightning  does  not  vanish  in  the  cloud  till  it  has  blazed, 
though  for  an  instant,  before  men.  Let  me  for  one  day 
place  my  foot  upon  the  destinies  of  Europe  ;  lot  me  for  one 
night  feel  your  bosom  heave  beneath  my  own,  and  then 
this  wild  and  tumultuous  breathing  may  be  still  forever. 

E.  Lytton  Bulwer. 

This  letter  is  endorsed  by  Lady  Lytton  thus  : — 

This  letter  upon  loliicli  I  wrote  Mm  word  that  nothing 
would  mahe^ne  marry  him.  Wretch  that  Iivas  to  break  my 
vow  !  Have  I  not  deserved  my  fate  ?  The  hypocrite  swore 
he  had  only  written  it  to  try  me,  and  I  like  a  fool,  believed 
him.* 


*  The  reader  will  note  this  letter  for  forcible  illustrations  of  the 
opinion  of  Lord  Lytton's  biographer  (see  Vol.  ii.,  p.  152)  : — "I  iiave 
now  given,  from  the  only  authentic  record  of  them,  all  the  particulars 
relative  to  the  circumstances  of  my  father's  marriage.  Their  multi- 
plied evidence  of  hi.s  early  affection  for  my  mother  is,  I  think,  no 


74  Lord  Lyttons  Letters. 


XXXII. 

To  Miss  Wheeler,  40  Somerset  Street. 

[One  more  meeting.] 

Upon  receiving  your  letter  I  came  to  town,  in  tlie  hope 
that  you  will  allow  me  to  see  you  once  more.  I  implore 
you  to  grant  me  this  request. 

Yours  unaltered  and  unalterably. 

E.  L.  B. 
Marshal  Thompson's  Hotel. 

Thursday, 
Ardently  as  I  long  to  see  you,  you  will  not  of  course 
come  out  to  risk  your  health. 

I  will  wait  in  town  any  time,  for  y^  hope  of  that  happi- 
ness. 

XXXIII. 

To  Miss  Wheeler. 

[Reconciled.] 

Thank  you  and  kiss  you  for  oo  letter,  mine  own  prettiest 
of  Roses  ;  me  is  so,  so  happy,  now  that  we  are  reconciled, 
but  yet  how  I  could  be  wretched  and  uneasy  about  oo  ? 

Good  heavens  !  to  think  of  you  swooning  in  the  night, 
and  remaining  so  long  on  those  cold  boards  !  why — why — 
why  was  I  not  there  to  bring  oo  back  and  nestle  oo  warm 
again  ?  and  then  those  horrid  spasms !  But  oo  will,  and 
must,  and  sail  be  quite  well  on  Monday,  will  oo  not,  dar- 
lingest  ?     Oh,  if  oo  knew,  if  oo  could   but  know,  how  I 

unworthy  tribute  to  her  character  and  conduct  at  a  time  when  a 
young,  unmarried  girl,  she  was  placed  in  a  very  difficult  and  unhappy 
position.  And  on  my  father's  side  the  history  illustrates  with  great 
force  that  depth  and  strength  of  character,  which  it  is  my  object  to 
portray  with  the  utmost  fidelity  in  my  power." — Ilis  own  letters  will 
now  enable  all  candid  persons  to  judge  for  themselves.   < 


Lord  Lyt ton's  Letters.  75 

prize  and  love  you  ;  but  you  will  know  it  some  time  or 
other.  It  is  very  late,  and  me  must  now  get  up,  as  me 
leave  Town  at  ten  ;  me  will  write  00  a  line  before  me  goes, 
together  with  00  things,  some  of  which  me  sends  00  back 
now.  Me  has  not  had  the  heart  to  open  them,  as  00  m;iy 
suppose  but  sends  them  just  as  they  were.  You  zoill  take 
care  of  yourself,  love,  will  00  not  ? 

XXXIV. 

To  Miss  Eosina  Wheeler,  40,  Somerset  Street,  Portman 
Square,  London. 

[His  want  of  belief. — Darkness  of  his  own  opinions. — Eldest  brother 
coming  back  to  England. 

Malvern  Wells,  Sept.  28ih,  1826. 
My  Dearest  Eosina, — I  am  now  at  leisure  to  answer 
your  letters.  I  half  think  I  write  coldly  to-day — if  so,  you 
will  forgive  me  ?  It  was  from  nothing  in  your  letters,  nor 
from  anything  in  my  own  feelings.  I  thank  you  for  your 
interest  for  me.  Whatever  may  be  my  own  reasons  for  my 
belief,  they  have  not  been  taken  lightly,  nor  is  it  likely  they 
will  easily  be  conquered.  However  that  be,  I  shall  never 
detail  them  to  you,  nor  would  I  weaken  for  a  single  moment 
any  opinion  from  which  you  have  derived  consolation  or 
hope.  Whatever  may  be  the  result  of  my  belief,  tlie  con- 
sequences shall  rest  with  me.  If  I  have  been  bold  enough 
to  state  my  opinions  before  the  world,  I  will  never  at  least 
give  my  motives  for  forming  them  :  and  if  I  am  thus  for- 
bearing to  people  whom  I  dislike  or  despise,  it  is  not  prob- 
able that  I  shall  ever  try  to  cloud  t'le  briglitncss  of  your 
hopes  by  the  darkness  of  my  own  opinions  ;  but  enough  of 
this  subject  only  let  me  beg  of  you  to  have  the  same  for- 
bearance for  me.  Do  not  charm  away  all  my  reasonings  by 
one  word  from  your  lips;  be  contented  with  having  all  my 
love  here.     Your  illustration  from  Chemistry  is  very,  very 


76  Lord  Lyttoiis  Letters. 

good  ;  I  do  not  attempt  to  answer  it.  The  great  proof  of 
genius,  by-the-bje,  is  not  knoivledge  but  the  application  of 
truths.  Your  two  requests  are  commands  ;  I  will  learn 
Avhat  I  am  already  trying  to  do — concealment.  You  have 
made  me  ambitious.  I  must  also  become  artificial,  one 
crouches  in  order  to  spring  ;  as  for  the  other,  I  sit  up  to 
think  of  you  instead  of  sleeping  to  forget  you  ;  besides,  I 
have  to  obtain  you,  which  is  not  to  be  doue  by  sleeping 
twelve  hours  out  of  the  tv/enty-four.  However,  you  need 
not,  dear  Rosina,  scold  me  any  more.  I  have  inured  raj^self 
so  early  to  fatigue  that  lean  endure  anything  except  losing 
you.  Perhaps  a  time  will  come  when  I  shall  go  to  bed 
earlier.  Beaiitiful  !  how  very,  very  rich  and  varied  is  the 
country  beneath  ray  windows;  what  an  exchange  for  my 
churchyard  at  Cheltenham  ;  and  such  hills  ;  more  beauti- 
ful than  those  by  Windermere. 

When  I  was  at  the  latter  place,  I  remember — it  does  not 
signify  what.  I  v/as  very  unhappy — I  had  cause  to  be  so. 
Now  I  ought  to  be  happy,  but  you  are  not  here.  Pray  let 
me  know  where  we  are  to  meet  in  London.  I  shall  stay 
here  no  longer.  My  heart  has  taken  up  its  residence  with 
you,  and  is  very  homesick  ;  accordingly,  I  shall  only  wait 
till  certain  people  have  left  town,  and  then  I  shall  set  off 
for  that  place,  which  however  dull  and  foggy,  contain?  for 
me  all  that  is  most  beautiful  on  earth,  my  own  love,  whom 
I  really  do  love  a  thousand  times  more  than  1  can  express 
(though  you  do  as  certainly  know  much  more  than  you 
need  do),  my  own  love,  do  turn  from  all  things  past  and 
present,  and  remember  that  we  are  all  in  all  to  one  another, 
if,  says  La  Bruyere  (the  best  in  my  opinion  of  all  the 
French  thinkei's),  if  we  cannot  make  all  the  liappiness,  we 
Avould  make  all  the  unhappincss  of  the  woman  we  love. 
This  is  so  far  true,  that  I  don't  see  that  any  one  has  a  right 
to  make  you  unhappy  except  me,  and  that  I  wish  I  alone 
could  do  so,  because  then  you  should  never  he  unhappy. 


Lord  Lyitons  Letters.  yj 

It  amuses  me,  your  calling  me  a  boy.  I  have  not  one  feel- 
ing left  that  is  not  at  least  sexagenarian  except  my  love 
for  yon,  and  that  indeed  is  very,  very  young.  Oh  Rosina, 
if  you  have  deceived  me,  tremble  not  for  my  peace,  but  for 
yours.  There  are  moments  now  in  which  I  could  doubt 
you  if  I  Avould  ;  but  I  can  never  suspect  for  more  than  an 
instant  until  I  am  convinced  for  ever  ;  but  it  is  only  when 
I  am  away  from  you  that  I  refuse  to  listen  utterly  to  my 
heart,  with  you  I  am  only  sensible  of  the  charm  which  you 
breathe  around  you.  Whatever  doubts  I  may  feel  when  I 
"look  in  yoiu'  face,"  it  is  indeed  to  ''forget  them  all.'* 
My  eldest  brother  is  coming  back  to  England.  I  am  very 
anxious  that  you  should  charm  him  completely.  Eemem- 
ber  that  ;  but  I  must  tell  you  his  particular  ideas  of 
Avomen  when  we  meet.  You  say  you  look  pale  and  lifeless, 
and  that  I  should  not  think  you  beautiful  were  I  to  see 
you.  Were  you  ever  to  lose  those  very  unequalled  charms 
which  attracted  me  first,  I  feel  convinced  that  you  would 
not  noio  be  less  dear  to  me  !  I  long  more  to  be  with  you 
when  you  are  ill  and  unhappy,  than  when  I  recall  your 
image  in  all  the  fulness  of  its  beauty.  I  don't  think  you 
can  read  these  crossings.  I  certainly  cannot,  but  as  you 
ask  for  them,  it  is  just  that  you  should  have  the  punish- 
ment of  deciphering  them.  There  is  such  a  beautiful  star 
above  me,  it  reminds  me  (yet  1  want  no  such  remem- 
brance) of  you  ;  but  so  does  everything  I  have  been  accus- 
tomed to  love  the  most.  We  have  quoted  French  much  in 
our  last  letters.  I  will  give  you  one  extract  from  Mad. 
d'Epinay,  prettier  and  truer  than  all  :  "  Je  ne  suis  pas 
souvent  ou  mon  corps  est.  Je  sais  ou  ma  pensee  me  porte, 
et  c'est  tonjours  ou  est-ce-qiie  faime." 

Do  not  fail  to  tell  me  where  we  are  to  meet  in  London 
and  remember  always  that  I  am  yours  entirely  for  ever. 

E.  L.  B. 


78  Lord  Lyttons  Letters, 


XXXV. 

[Cockburn  in  love  and  writing  poetry.] 

4,  Craven  Hill. 
Well,  Rosp,  I  am  returned.  I  waited  for  yonr  letter 
and  then  set  off.  I  arrived  here  about  half  an  hour  ago, 
and  that  space  of  time  has  been  employed  in  the  sentimen- 
tal occupation  of  dinner.  It  is  not  only  my  night's  sleep 
tliat  you  rob  me  of,  even  my  last  support,  the  latest 
stronghold  which  I  retained  against  your  influence,  my 
citadel  of  bachelorship  and  bravery,  yea,  my  very  after- 
noon dinner  nap  is  attacked,  besieged,  and  destroyed  at 
last ;  the  fire  is  warm,  the  sofa  at  hand,  all  things  inviting 
to  repose, — magnanimously  I  reject  them  all.  I  renounce 
not  only  sleep,  but  dreams,  for  the  sober  certainty  of  indit- 
ing epistles  to  No.  40  Somerset  Street,  viz.,  I  renounce 
seeing,  hearing,  kissing  you  to  the  barren  pleasure  of  writ- 
ing. Be  grateful,  Rose,  and  send  me  a  long,  long  sum  of 
[kisses]  or,  or  I'll  bite  you  to  death  when  we  meet.  Ten 
billion  kisses,  my  darling,  for  your  letter,  and  twenty 
billion  more  for  your  good  conduct  in  walking  two  hours 
in  the  square.  I  should  have  written  too  oo  yesterday,  but 
intended  to  leave  Knebworth  that  day.  I  rode  this  morn- 
ing through  Brocket,  but  did  not  stop  there  ;  I  only  paused 
by  the  bridge.  Do  you  remember  the  day  we  stood  there, 
and  Miss  Spence  stood  afar,  fearful  of  colds  and  rheums 
and  damp  grass  ?  I  think,  darling,  we  shall  grow  soon 
like  Mr.  Blount,  who,  pettily  enough  says,  "  If  I  think 
of  you,  all  my  conversation  turns  into  "  Do  you  remem- 
ber ?"  AVhen  the  G — s  at  home  ?  I  expect  my  eldest 
brother  m  town  very  soon  ;  perhaps  he  is  arrived  now.  I 
have  much  to  say  to  you  on  many  subjects,  and  long 
ardently  to  see  you.     I  hope  and  trust  you  keep  your  for- 


Lord  Lyttoiis  Letters.  79 

mer  intention  of  letting  me  have  that  liappiness  on  Friday, 
though,  as  I  have  said  before,  never  do  anything  to  subject 
yourself  to  danger.  If  you  will  meet  me  at  twelve,  I  will 
have  a  cab  ready.  Let  me  know,  as  I  shall  be  in  town 
to-morrow,  at  eleven.  Direct  to  Thomson's  hotel,  wirh 
regard  to  your  mother's  message  or  note,  I  don't  think, 
however  unkind  it  may  seem,  that  she  really  means  to  be 
so.  It  is  your  conduct,  as  compared  to  hers,  which  hurts 
her,  and  when  proud  and  ill-tempered  people  are  hurt, 
they  always  get  cross  upon  it.  I  judge  her  by  myself,  and 
think  if  I  had  behaved  very  ill  to  any  one  who  had 
rewarded  me  good  for  evil,  I  should  be  very  loth  to  show 
either  the  penitence  or  the  gratitude  I  felt.  I  should 
mask  all  feelings  under  one  amiable  appearance  of  sulki- 
ness  ;  but  I  should  thaw  at  last ;  and  so  darling,  will  your 
mother,  if  you  go  on  acting  like  an  angel  as  you  are. 

A  twopenny  post-letter  can  it  be  yours  ?  I  won't  open 
the  seal  yet.  "  George  Butler,"  very  like,  and  yet  very 
unlike  your  hand-writing  !  Only  Cockburn  !  d — n  the 
fellow.  I  have  read  his  letter,  well  !  the  poor  child  has 
fallen  in  love,  and  rhymes  on  the  strength  of  it.  I  send 
you  some  verses  he  has  enclosed,  not  very  good,  but  show- 
ing some  talent.  He  says  some  of  the  ideas  are  mine,  yet  I 
don't  recognize  them.  Well  Poodle,  and  did  00  dream  of 
Pup  ?    Really  and  truly  now  that  is  a  curious  coincidence. 

(Tlie  conclusion  of  this  letter  is  wanting.) 

XXXVI. 

To  Miss  Wheeler,  40,  Somerset  Street,  Portman  Square. 

[Ad:im  Smith. — Writing  his  mother. — "  My  fate  in  yours." — Lady 
Caroline. — Miss  Spence.] 

My  Dear,  Own  And  Only  Love, — there  are  three  pretty 
epithets  for  you.  Your  very  sensible  and  very  saucy  epistle 
contains  sentiments  extremely  proper  for  young  ladies,  and 


8o  Lord  Lyttons  Letters. 

quotations  metaphors,  and  allusions  enough  to  supply  me 
for  an  epic  poem,  or  a  maiden  speech.  I  wish  I  had  my 
Autlior's  Best  Companion  :  or,  Complete  Commonplace  Book 
here  to  answer  them.  Certainly  never  did  science  or 
literature  look  half  so  attractive  as  when  they  come  from 
you — you  put  your  own  new  cap  on  them  and  give  them 
th^i  figure  cVange  Avhich  your  own  fair  face  ought  only  to 
possess.  I  will  own,  however,  that  in  spite  of  your  quota- 
tion from  Adam  Smith  (a  very  shallow,  though  a  very 
original  thinker  by-the-bye)  that  you  have  not  clearly  made 
out  your  propositions.  You  talk  very  sagely  about  poverty, 
'*  wealth  of  a  cottage,  and  all  that  sort  of  thing."  Tell  me 
I  shall  not  be  reconciled  to  it,  hint  that  you  shall  not ;  and 
after  all  this  preamble  which  is  meant  to  deprive  me  of 
seeing  you  now,  permit  me  to  hope  that  on  New  Year's 
Day  I  shall  have  the  happiness  of  sharing  the  said  poverty, 
etc.,  with  you  till  (God  knows  when)  I  shall  leave  you  in 
widow's  weeds,  etc.  Oh,  Rose,  my  own  dear,  dear  love,  I 
do  {not  in  this  jesting  manner,  but)  from  my  heart  of 
hearts  accept  and  claim  your  promise  of  being  mine. 
Whatever  disadvantages  may  arise,  whatever  dangers  may 
occur,  I  know,  I  feel  that  you  will,  amidst  them  all,  be 
happier  with  me  than  if  you  were  wise  and  prudent  and 
separated  from  me  for  ever.  I  believe  that  we  are  indeed 
formed  for  each  other,  you  to  be  my  guide  and  my  pre- 
server, and  /to  be  your  consoler  from  the  remembrance  of 
the  past  and  your  refuge  from  your  anxieties  for  the  future. 
This  is,  perhaps,  the  most  critical,  certainly  the  most 
inconsistent,  period  of  my  life.  It  will  now  be  decided 
whether  I  may  become  useful  to  mankind,  whether  the 
bitterness  of  late  years  may  be  moulded  and  mellowed  into 
selfishness,  or  whether  I  may  be  as  I  have  been,  a  very 
weed  iipon  the  stream  without  an  object  or  a  use.  The 
world  is  a  deadly  destroyer  to  all  the  visions  of  boyish 
benevolence  ;    to   mingle  with   men   is  to  despise   them. 


Loj'd  Lyttons  Letters.  8i 

Who  can  see  the  knaves  and  fools  who  surrround  us,  the 
two  great  classes  of  society,  the  cheaters  and  the  cheated, 
and  go  home  to  dream  over  the  early  projects  of  general 
amelioration  and  the  vague  generosity  and  self -abandonment 
of  an  inexperienced  philanthropy  ? 

Two  years  since  and  there  is  not  one  earthly  blessing 
(7  did  not  then  Jcnoio  you)  which  I  would  not  have  sacri- 
ficed for  the  benefit  of  others.  Now  I  have  learnt  to 
despise  what  I  once  respected,  and  to  loathe  Avhat  I  once 
made  it  a  duty  and  a  principle  to  love.  If  I  go  in  the 
world  I  am  infected  with  the  inquietude  and  fever  Avhich 
pervade  it.  "I  am  jostled,"  said  my  own  Bolingbroke, 
''in  the  crowd.  I  do  not  jostle  again — am  trampled.'" 
This,  perhaps  the  most  universal  feeling  among  all  men, 
the  least  separated  by  character  from  others  and  makes  the 
most  ordinary  motive  of  ambition.  It  was  in  that  better 
moment,  when  all  my  purer  principles  were  shaken  and 
none  of  those  Avhich  are  more  callous  had  yet  replaced 
them,  that  I  first  saw  and  adored  the  perfection  which  I 
fancied,  or  rather  Avhich  I  fell  and  heheld  in  you.  Your 
mind  so  generous  and  so  noble  shall  breathe  into  my  own 
the  beauty  of  its  holiness  ;  and  as  you  have  brought  back 
to  me  the  passions,  you  shall  also  restore  to  me  the  prin- 
ciples of  my  freshest  and  least-contaminated  years.  And 
now,  my  own  Rose,  that  I  have  told  you  that  this  is  a  very 
critical  period  in  the  "life  of  a  lover,"  and  now  that  I 
have  expressed  my  hope  that  I  am  going  to  become  very 
good  under  your  guidance  and  direction,  I  will  tell  you 
what  I  am  going  this  very  night  to  do  in  order  to  effect 
this  great  object.  I  am  going  to  pen  a  very  long,  sensible, 
well-written  letter,  all  in  your  style,  only  without  the 
various  helles  chases,  literary  and  scientific,  with  which  you 
have  embellisheJ  yours,  to  my  mother.  Directly  I  have 
her  answer  you  shall  hear  from  me  again  ;  and  then  if  she 
consents,  I  will  put  to  you  six  or  seven  very  categorical 


82  Lord  Lyttons  Letters. 

questions,  to  which  you  shall  give  me  very  direct  replies, 
and  then  my  suspicions  will  all  be  answered.  I  will 
believe  you  in  preference  to  every  one  for  I  do  place  the 
most  devoted  and  entire  confidence  in  you.  Don't  talk  to 
mo  about  men  in  general  ;  I  am  not  like  them,  nor  am  I 
very  likely  to  be  led  in  my  opinions  by  any  human  being 
whatsoever,  as  my  poor  mother  always  complains — 
"Edward,  excepting  you  " — who  changed  me  like  a  kaleid- 
oscope (very  ugly  simile  that,  by-the-bye).  Nevertheless 
you  have  the  satisfaction  of  thinking  that  if  I  am  to  be  led 
by  opinions  about  beauty,  etc.,  that  every  one  will  only 
lead  me  back  to  my  adoration  of  you.  I  like  my  rides  in 
the  Regent's  Park  which,  whichever  way  I  turn,  always 
restore  me  to  the  same  spot — just  opposite  Portland  Place. 
And  now.  Rose,  when  am  I  to  see  you  ?  When,  when, 
when  ?  I  really  think  you  are  like  the  Frenchman  who 
left  his  mistress  in  order  to  write  to  her,  or  the  poor 
French  girl  who  said  to  me,  ^'  Go  from  me,  that  you  may 
be  with  me  the  more."  I  must  own  that  those  of  such 
very  wiredrawn  sentiment  never  made  a  part  of  my  exist- 
ence. I  prefer  a  thousand  times  to  writing  these  long 
rambling  letters  one  word  from  those  beautiful  lips,  and 
there  is  one  thing  infinitely  more  precious  to  me  than  even 
your  letters,  and  that  is  the  hand  which  wrote  them.  Tell 
me  when  I  may  see  you.  If  you  won't  let  ine  to-morroAV, 
or  as  soon  as  you  can,  I  shall  go  and  hide  myself  at  Kneb- 
worth,  where  I  faithfully  promise  that  I  will  not  write  to 
you  a  single  word  till  I  see  you.  I  have  no  idea  of  any 
letters  being  more  acceptable  than  myself.  You  tell  me 
not  to  give  uj)  poetry.  I  wish  I  could  write  out  a  long 
tale,  as  long  as  the  ''Corsair,"  written  at  Versailles,  in 
order  to  convince  you  I  have  not.  I  shall  publish  it  if  I 
can  get  anything  else  to  succeed  first.  I  wonder  if  you 
will  like  any  other  book  (in  prose).  It  is  very,  very 
impassioned — it  will   make  all   the    old   ladies  angry.     I 


Lord  Lyttons  Letters.  83 

intend  to  write  the  most  passionate  parts  now,  yet,  after 
all,  I  tiiiuk  I  have  never  been  so  stupid,  or  Avritten  so  ill, 
or  talked  so  badly  as  since  I  fell  in  love  with  you.  When 
one  feels  most,  one  expresses  worst.  If  this  be  true  with 
me,  I  hope  it  is  not  inversely  so  with  you,  for  your  letters 
are  THE  most  beautiful.  But  I  won't  flatter,  since  we  are 
going  to  marry,  for  husband  and  wife  are  never  to  say  a 
civil  thing  to  one  another.  Your  verses,  your  verses, 
llosina,  how  more  than  exquisite  they  are  !  Oh,  Rose,  if 
you  feel  as  truly  as  you  iinagine  beautifully,  I  promise  you 
never,  when  you  are  once  mine,  shall  you,  during  my  life, 
repent  that  my  "  fate  is  yours.''  I  will  repay  to  you  all  else 
that  you  may  lose.  You  asked  me  about  Lady  Caroline. 
I  must  tell  you  some  day  my  history  with  her ;  it  is 
exquisitely  comic.  Another  time  I  must  also  let  you  into 
the  mysteries  of  my  Maltese  chain,  which  was  very  near 
proving  tragic  ;  but  these  are  tales  of  a  later  day.  1  can't 
get  my  brother  to  do  anything  about  poor  Miss  Spcnco  and 
her  novel.  Good  night,  dearest  Rose  ;  may  your  dreams 
be  as  soothing  to  you  as  the  dews  which  fall  upon  your 
namesake. 

E.  B. 

Athenaeum. — Scene. — Two  easy  arm-chairs  at  the  corner 
of  the  fire,  in  which  are  deposited  two  persons,  one  old  and 
one  young  one  sleeping,  and  one  gaping — three  elderly 
men  in  an  opposit  corner  talking,  about  Sir  H.  Davy.  My 
coffee  coming  in  and  the  fire  going  out. 

XXXVII. 

[Love  verses.] 

Eh  Bien  ! — Wiiat  am  I  going  to  write  you  about  ? — 
that  I  love  you  ?  That  you  know  !  That  you  arc  pretty 
and  handsome  and  beautiful,  and  all  that  ?     That  you  know 


84  Lord  Lytto7is  Letters. 

also.  But  write  I  must !  Ah,  Rose,  out  the  abundance  of 
the  heart  tlie  mouth  speaketh,  and  the  hand  writeth. 
I  sit  here  alone,  and  recall  the  moments  I  have  passed  with 
you,  moments  so  full  of  rapture,  the  charm  of  existence. 
What  to  us,  then,  were  the  past  and  the  future  ?  All  life 
was  centered  in  one  period,  and  that  was  present.  To 
touch,  to  kiss  you,  to  mingle  my  very  soul  with  your  breath. 
For  what  years  of  privation  would  not  such  a  privilege 
repay  me  ?  I  love  almost  more  to  sit  by  you  in  silence 
than  to  speak.  Do  you  remember  that  Italian  verse  which 
says  ''  The  lips  are  silent, ^^ar/e  Vdmef  The  charm  which 
you  shed  around  you  enters  into  my  existence,  and  I 
become  animated  with  a  new  and  deep  and  passionate 
spirit,  only  because  I  am  with  you.  At  such  moments  I 
long  for  words  to  express  my  feelings.  I  address  you  but 
in  the  common  place  of  admiration,  and  the  infinite  variety 
of  my  emotions  can  only  vent  itself  in  three  words,  "  I  love 
you.''  Oh,  Eose,  every  moment  that  I  with  you  but  seems 
to  swell  the  amount  of  the  love  which  I  bear  to  you,  and — 
but  this  is  all  very  silly  and  very  trite,  and  much  better 
expressed  in  these  lines  from  Campbell  : — 

■."Flowers  of  my  life,  so  lovely  and  so  lone, 
Whom  I  would  rather  in  the  desert  meet. 
Scorning  and  scorned  by  Virtue's  foes,  than  own 
Earth's  pomps  and  treasures  lavished  at  my  feet  1" 

I  forgot  the  rest,  but  they  are  all  beautiful ;  and  it  is  a 
pity  as  that  all  things  beautiful  remind  me  of  you,  you  cannot 
remind  me  of  all  things  that  are  beautiful.  I  shall  not  go 
to  Mr.  Fitzherbert's  this  evening.  I  shall  call  there 
to-morrow  instead.  Passing  though  Piccadilly,  in  my  way 
to  the  Athenseum,  where  I  am  now  writing,  I  met  one  of 

my  **  things  of  dark  imaginings,''  one  of  my  J ,  whom 

I  knew  was  just  come  here  from  Russia.  "  Ah  !"  said  he, 
such  news  from  Moscow  1"    Never  was  I  so  fully  impressed 


Lord  Lyttons   Letters.  85 

with  the  just  value  of  worldly  things  !  It  was  a  quarter  of 
an  hour  before  I  recolleoted  where  Moscow  was.  You  may 
be  sure  I  did  not  give  up  my  thoughts  and  recollections  of 
you  for  the  private  history  of  the  Russiiiu  conspiracy.  By 
— the  bye,  I  never  showed  you  the  versos  I  was  going  to 
prefix  to  the  book,  and  which  was  my  secret  reason  for 
showing  you  that  poem.  They  are  very  cold  to  what  I 
should  say  now  : — 

"Fairer  than  aught  which  erst  at  midnight  stole. 
In  vision'd  beauty  on  my  boyish  soul, 
When  wild,  warm,  circling  as  the  summer  air  ; 
Love  glow'd  o'er  all  which  Fancy  deemed  most  fair ; 
If  at  thy  will  these  thoughts  were  pour'd  along  ; 
Till  the  rude  truants  softened  into  song, 
Forgive  me,  lad}^  that  I  fain  would  see 
My  task  made  sacred  by  one  smile  from  thee." 

My  own  love  !  I  shall  dream  of  you  to-night !  Ah, 
that  first  of  January  !  when  will  I  come  ?  Oh,  how  I  long 
for  the  moment  when  your  head  shall  rest  on  my  bosom, 
and  your  lips  repeat  to  me  the  vanity  of  the  world  in  com- 
parison to  the  rapture  of  love  !  Farewell,  my  own  Eose  ! 
world  that,  like  tlie  nightingale,  my  voice  alone  could  be 
with  you  in  solitude  and  through  the  night,  and  the  dark- 
ness borrow  music  to  speak  to  you  of  love. 

^  Ever  your  adorer, 

E.  L.  B. 
XXXVIII. 
To  Miss  Wheeler,  40,  Somerset  Street. 
[Told  his  brother  Henry  of  his  intention  to  marry  in  a  few  weeks. 

My  Darling  Angel  Darling  Poodle, — 1  got  home  safe 
and  well,  and  found  Henry  waiting  dinner  for  me.  Mo 
soon  put  him  in  good  humour  with  me,  and  then  me  told 
him  of  my  intention  to  marry  00  in  a  few  weeks.  lie  was 
exceedingly  kind  and  good-natured  about  it,  and  pleased  me 


86  Lord  Lyttons   Letters. 

v^ery  much.  My  mother,  I  hear,  is  very  unwell ;  so  me 
cannot  write  to  her  for  a  day  or  two,  till  she  is  recovered. 
Me  has  been  very  angry  with  myself  for  hasting  oo  to-day, 
and  making  oo  prick  up  oo  ears,  zoo  booty  ;  however,  me 
has  endeavoured  to  forgive  myself  by  the  reflection  that  oo 
will  soon  be  in  Puppy's  paws,  and  then  he  can  kiss  and 
make  it  up  to  oo. 

Tell  me  how  oo  is,  how  oo  got  home,  what  oo  said  to  oo 
uncle,  etc.,  etc.,  etc.  Meanwhile,  me  has  just  shaken  out 
2  pieces  of  grass  from  my  hair,  which  me  thinks  oo  put 
there,  and  which  me  would  send  oo,  but  they  have  fallen 
under  the  table,  and  me  can't  find  them.  Well  zoo  darling 
booty,  me  must  wish  you  good  bye  and  God  bless  oo. 

Zoo's  own  idolatrous  and  fond  Puppy. 

XXXIX. 

To  Miss  R.  Wheeler,  40,  Somerset  Street. 
[Lord  Grey's  vindication  of  Canning.] 
My  Darling  Angel  Poodle, — I  was  very  low  spirited  and 
wretched  all  the  morning,  or  would  have  written  to  oo.  I 
was  quite  glad  when  my  horse  came  to  the  door,  and  then 
I  rode  to  Mr.  Colburn's,  for  1  have  it  in  design  to  write  a 
pamphlet  on  the  present  administration  and  Lord  Grey's 
Speech  in  Vindication  of  Canning.  I  am  to  decide  by 
Monday.  If  so  I  shall  make  Colburn  a  present  of  it,  and 
publish  it  with  my  name.  Yes,  my  own  darling,  I  think  I 
shall  go  out  of  town  to-morrow  ;  but  I  am  so  very  unwell 
to-night  and  have  such  a  very  severe  cold,  that  I  may  de- 
lay it  for  a  day  or  two.  How  very  kind  it  was  of  oo  to 
write  to  me  last  night ;  me  was  so  much  obliged  to  oo,  for 
me  was  very  unhappy  when  me  came  home, — and  oo  letter 
restored  me.  Me  has  got  oo  parasol,  but  me  cannot  send 
it,  it  would  look  so — therefore  oo  must  meet  me  some  day 
and  me'll  then  give  it  oo. 

Me  has  heard  of  another  place  in  Surrey,  which  me 


Lord  Lyttons  Letters.  87 

thinks  may  suit  us  better ;  but  me  shall  have  further  par- 
ticulars to  morrow.  Mo  has  a  long  letter  for  my  mother  to 
write,  which  me  is  much  too  unwell  to  do  now  ;  so  me  shall 
go  to  bed  and  curl  myself  with  my  tail  in  my  mouth  and 
dream  of  Poodle.  Good-night,  my  own  dear,  dear,  dear, 
darling  Angel  \marlcs  of  kisses. '\ 

XL. 

Miss  Wheeler. 

[Has  written  to  his  mother. — Has  a  very  bad  cold.] 

My  Darling  And  Bootiful  Poodle, — 1  write  one  line  to 
enquire  after  00,  to  tell  00  that  me  has  written  to  my 
mother  6  sheets,  that  me  has  a  very  bad  cold,  or  w*^  call  on  00 
uncle  to-day  ;  but  me's  coughing  my  lungs  out.  Tell  me,  my 
prettiest,  all  00  says,  etc.,  etc.  Can  00  get  me  those  books 
with  any  good  life  of  Canning — for  if  me  writes  the  pam- 
phlet, me  must  directly  ;  and  me  cannot  get  the  books  any- 
where ? 

Ever  zoo  own  heart's  Puppy. 

XLI. 

Marshall  Thompson's  Hotel,' 
Satioi'day. 

[Verses  by  Miss  Landon. — Verses  by  Miss  Wheeler. — No  letter  from 
his  mother. — Writing  a  satire.] 

Twelve  kisses — such  hisses — do  I  owe  you  for  your  first 
letter  !  Your  conduct  about  the  money  is  like  that  of  my 
own  Eose,  my  own  high-minded  and  noble  girl,  who 
answers  every  iota  of  what  is  at  once  most  valuable  and 
most  endearing  in  woman.  Never  while  you  are  with  me  shall 
I  indeed  sink  into  the  mei'e  politician.  You  shall  make  mo 
more  worthy  of  yourself.  My  own  pretty  Eose,  Miss 
Landon  docs  not  say  half  as  much  as  she  ought  with  such 
an  inspiration  as  you  should  lend  her;  she  has  said  nothing 


88  Lord  Lyttons   Letters. 

that  can  do  you  justice ;  but  the  versos  are  very,  very, 
pretty,  and  contain  great  strengtli  and  richness  of  descrip- 
tion ;  and  as  for  yours,  they  are  feeling  made  music.  You 
certainly  shed  over  all  that  you  write  of  softness  only 
equalled  by  your  smile,  and  a  brilliancy,  which  nothing 
can  equal  but  your  own  bright  glances.  As  you  have 
given  me  portrait,  you  must  let  me  have  another,  and 
when  I  come  to  Town  again,  give  me  the  likeness  of  the 
only  thing  which  can  equal  your  mind,  your  face.  I  shall 
be  in  Somerset  Street  long  before  two,  and  have  sent  to  get 
a  cabriolet  to  save  you  some  part  of  the  walk.  Your 
mother's  letter  is  very  characteristic  of  the  Godwin  or 
Woolstencraft  school;  but  shows  feeling,  and  I  am  very 
happy  to  find  by  your  second  note  (for  which,  my  own 
love,  I  owe  you  twelve  kisses  more)  that  she  has  seen  and 
done  you  justice.  Keep  yourself  as  calm  and  quiet  as  you 
can,  tho'  I  know  you  will  laugh  at  this  advice.  I  have  had 
a  letter  from  my  mother — not  an  answer  yet — in  which  she 
wants  me  to  go  to  Knebworth  about  some  business  ;  as  she 
will  therefore  send  her  answer  there,  I  shall  go  down 
Monday,  and  stay  four  or  five  days  to  write  my  satire. 

Yet  I  am  too  happy  now  to  be  ill-natured.  You  say 
that  I  once  said  we  had  na  present,  and  that  I  contradicted 
this  yesterday.  A  passage  in  my  book  is  before  me  which 
I  will  reconcile  the  contradiction  :  ''  Constantly  engaged 
as  we  are,  in  looking  behind  us  or  before, — if  there  is  one 
hour  in  Avhicli  we  are  only  sensible  of  the  time  being,  and 
that  each  of  those  moments  is  fraught  with  the  fulness,  the 
enjoyment,  the  transport  of  existence,  it  is  when  we  are 
with  the  one  person  whose  life  and  spirit  have  become  the 
great  part  and  principle  of  our  own  V  I  look  forward  with 
such  anxiety  to  see  you,  and  express  how  much  I  admire 
and  adore  you.  Ah,  Rose,  how  shall  I  express  that  ?  not 
indeed,  as  you  say,  by  language  !  but  had  I  your  eyes,  I  do 
not  think  I  should  have  cause  to  despair.     I  am  so  stunned 


Lord  Lyttons  Letters.  89 

and  surrounded  in  this  d — d  coffee  room  by  some  delightful 
young  men,  that  I  scarcely  know  Avhat  to  write  :  they  are 
just  arrived  from  Italy  !  "Verily  Egypt  must  have  been 
glad  of  their  departure  !"  Adieu,  my  dearest  love  !  Ah 
that  I  were  with  you  ! 

E.  B. 

XLII. 

Post  Mark,  October  12,  1826. 

Knebworth,  Stevenage. 

Wednesday. 

[His  mother's  opposition  to  his  marriage. — Proposed  separation. — 
Solemn  declaration  of  belief  that  his  mother  would  ultimately 
have  consented. — Waits  her  reply.] 

For  the  last  24  hours  I  have  been  in  such  a  state  of  utter 
and  perfect  wretchedness,  that  if  it  could  continue  in  the 
same  intensity  24  hours  longer,  I  do  really  believe  that  I 
should  not  be  alive ;  but  I  now  have  now  made  myself 
better  and  calmer,  and  feel  at  last  enabled  to  control  my 
feelings  sufficiently  to  write  to  you.  I  will  not  however 
speak  immediately  of  what  is  to  be  the  main  purport  of  this 
letter  ;  for  indeed  I  cannot.  I  will  rather  endeavour  to 
glid  into  it  by  indifferent  subjects. 

I  did  not  answer  your  short  note  in  Town,  for  I  was 
rather  angry  :  you  did  not  do  right.  Rose,  to  deceive  me, 
tho'  only  in  a  trifle.  However,  the  question  Avas  so  ungal- 
lant,  and  the  answer  so  petty  in  its  equivocation,  that  I 
shall  content  myself  with  scolding  you  for  so  unreasonable 
a  diffidence  in  your  own  attractions.  I  stopped  at  Bosket 
on  my  way,  and  saw  Lady  Caroline  for  a  few  minutes;  I 
mention  this  because  she  asked  me  if  I  had  seen  you,  and 
I  said  I  had  met  you  at  Miss  Spcnce's.  I  arrived  here  at 
last,  and  waited  with  an  impatience  you  will  readily  con- 
ceive for  the  post  that  was  to  bring  me  an  answer  from  my 
mother, — I  cannot  go  on,  I  must  take  some  more  laudanum 


90  Lord  Lyttons  Letters. 

and  go  into  the  air  first. — T  received  that  answer  at  last. 
Oh  Eose,  such  a  letter  !  Yon  were  right,  and  I  was  mis- 
taken when  I  imagined  that  my  mother  felt  for  nie  any 
affection  unconnected  with  vanity,  or  that  she  cared  a 
single  straw  for  my  happiness,  so  long  as  it  did  not  reflect 
lustre  and  credit  upon  herself.  There  is  not  in  this  letter 
one  kind  expression  to  redeem  its  want  of  almost  human 
consideration  for  my  feelings  ;  and  it  ends  with  saying 
that  if  I  marry  I  should  have,  not  her  consent,  but  her 
curse.     I  must  stop  here  again  for  some  minutes  ! 

Well,  Rose  I  have  nerved  myself  at  last,  and  will  pro- 
ceed without  further  interruption.  To  say  that  I  do  not 
feel  pain  at  my  mother's  disapprobation,  even  if  it  were 
utterly  unconnected  with  worldly  considerations  would  be 
absurd  ;  if  I  felt  less  for  her,  my  feelings  for  you  would  not 
be  what  at  this  moment  they  are  ;  but  let  us  look  only  to 
those  worldly  considerations.  If  we  marry  without  my 
mother's  consent,  my  allowance  from  her  will  of  course 
cease.  We  shall  have  nothing  but  my  father's  legacy, 
utterly  insufficient  at  all  times,  and  the  interest  of  which 
for  some  years  would  be  I  fear,  entirely  consumed  by  the 
debts  I  have  had  the  imprudence  to  incur.  This  then  is 
out  of  the  question,  comparative  poverty  and  obscurity,  I 
might  have  been  selfish  enough  to  ask  you  to  share  ;  but 
not  absolute  want.  Wretch  as  I  have  been  to  you,  this  at 
least  shall  not  fill  the  catalogue  of  my  offences.  Even  were 
you  less  dear  to  me,  you  should  never  link  yourself  only  to 
privation  and  distress.  Now  for  the  alternative  of  a  private 
marriage.  You  said  right,  Rose,  when  you  said  that  it  was 
only  in  a  moment  of  madness  that  you  could  consent  to 
such  a  measure,  and  it  would  bo  certainly  only  in  a  moment 
of  the  most  thoughtless  or  the  most  determined  selfishness, 
that  I  could  have  urged  you  to  do  so.  Deceit  and  doubt 
and  anxiety — the  probability  of  the  loss  of  character,  the 
chance  (forgive  me  for  repeating  the  old  story)  of  my  dying 


Lord  Lyttons   Letters.  91 

with  our  marriage  unacknowledged  and  yourself  unprovided 
for — all  this  we  miglit  both  overlook  in  the  blindness  or 
delirium  of  the  moment ;  but  this  in  the  calmness  of 
reflection  I  never  will  prepare  for  your  destiny.  What  if 
Ave  had  children  ?  Should  I  be  base  enough  to  suffer  by 
concealment  the  ruin  of  your  reputation  ;  or  should  I  ensure 
you,  by  a  disclosure,  the  penury  which  wd  immediately 
ensue  ?  What  can  we  do  ?  Oh,  Rosina  !  do  not  answer 
this  immediately.  Do  not  say  that  we  have  only  an  entire 
and  final  separation.  Give  me  one  hope,  one  comfort,  how- 
ever Aveak  and  doubtful,  and  you  Avill  indeed  be  my 
redeemer  from  despair  !  But  of  what  nature  can  it  be  ? 
Never  without  the  certainty  of  marriage  ought  we  to  meet 
alone  as  we  have  met  !  You  have  too  much  of  the  purity 
of  affection,  and  I  of  the  madness,  the  guiltiness  of  desire  ! 
And  if  ever  I  were  base  enough  to  cause  you  a  ruin  so  entire, 
I  am  convinced  that  the  instant  afterwards  I  should  destroy 
myself.  But  pause,  I  beseech  you,  before  you  exclude  all 
hope,  as  for  me  I  am  so  bowed  to  the  dust  that  I  cannot 
dare  to  look  up.  I  am  so  wretched  that  I  almost  think  I 
have  lost  the  common  energies  of  existence.  Can  you  not 
rais  me  once  more  from  that  despondency  which  but  three 
days  ago  you  had  brightened  into  rapture  and  hope  ?  But 
if  we  are  indeed  to  part,  I  have  not  the  power  to  give  you 
up — it  is  for  you  to  resign  me.  Do  not  do  so  too  kindly, 
or  you  will  break  my  heart ;  but  if  you  are  at  a  loss  words, 
I  will  supply  them. 

Do  not  tell  me  as  you  did  before,  that  I  ought  not  to 
reproach  myself,  and  that  you  have  shared  my  fault ;  but 
tell  mo  that  I  sliould  never  have  attempted  to  gain  your 
affections  without  tlie  cerlainiy  of  ultimately  enjoying 
them.  Tell  me  tiiat  I  have  endangered  your  permament 
happiness  in  seeking  for  the  selfish  rapture  of  obtaining 
your  love.  All  this,  all  your  reproaches  I  should  deserve. 
One  only  excuse  can  I  offer. 


92  Lord  Lytto7is  Letters. 

I  do  most  solemnly  declare  that  I  always  imagined  from 
the  first  to  tlie  last,  my  mother  would  ultimately  consent. 
I  thought  she  might  ask  delay  and  trial  and  probation,  but 
never  till  I  received  this  letter  did  I  foresee  her  unqualified 
and  continued  disapprobation.  Had  I  done  so.  Rose,  you 
should  never,  never  have  shed  one  tear  for  me.  And  now 
I  beseech  you  again  and  again  to  pause  before  you  answer 
me ;  give  me,  I  implore  you,  some  solitary  hope — never 
were  you  so  dear  to  me  as  you  are  now,  my  own  Love.  Is 
this  the  last  time  I  am  to  call  you  so  ? 

E.  L.  BULWER.* 

XLIII. 

[A  last  letter.] 

Stevenage,  Od.  Uth,  1826. 
You  say  you  are  ill  and  yet  that  I  am  not  to  write  to 
you — how  can  I  resist  it  ?  But  I  write  only  two  sentences, 
which  you  will  forgive,  because  the  one  contains  a  request 
and  the  other  some  resemblance  to  a  hope.  I  entreat,  I  con- 
jure you,  dearest  Rosina,  by  every  recollection  of  the  past 
which  still  remains  to  us,  and  by  every  hope  of  the  future 
which  we  once  ventured  to  form,  to  take  the  greatest  care 
of  your  own  health,  and  to  remember  that  tho'  every  circum- 
stance of  absence  and  time  your  welfare  and  interest  will 
concentrate  everything  that  is  most  dear  to  me.  I  have 
only  to  add  this,  that  if  T  can  earn  such  a  reputation  as  to 
repay  my  obligations  to  my  mother  by  satisfying  her  wishes 
on  my  account,  and  such  an  independence  as  to  realize  our 
ideas  of  content,  then  this  letter  will  not  be  the  last  I  shall 
write  you,  nor  will  it  contain  the  latest  prayer  and  appeal 
that  I  shall  venture  to  make  to  your  remembrance  of  what 
has  been.     And  now  if  there  be  really  some  Diviner  Being 

*  This  letter  is  endorsed  by  Lady  Lytlon,  thus:  "  May  14th,  1836, 
Oh  !  why  was  I  ever  cajoled  into  retracting  the  separation  I  insisted 
upon  on  receipt  of  this  letter  ?  I  should  not  be  the  miserable  wictch 
I  am  now." 


Lord  Lyttoiis  Letters.  93 

who  contemplates  and  ordains  the  individual  interests  of 
Earth,  may  He  preserve  you  from  every  evil  and  bestow  on 
you  every  good  !  May  you  find  in  the  affection  of  your 
mother  all  that  you  have  lost  in  me,  and  may  some  portion 
of  that  love  and  desire  for  your  happiness  which  /am  for- 
bidden to  show  you  be  scattered  and  diffused  among  all  the 
ties  and  connections  that  surround  you. 

October,  1826.  '       E.  L.  Bulwer.* 

XLIV. 

To  Miss  Wheeler. 

[Asking  her  to  marry  at  once.]    \ 

It  is  impossible  to  express  the  state  of  mind  I  am  in  ; 
but  I  do  not  write  to  speak  to  you  of  that.  I  write  only  to 
say  this;  in  spite  of  everything  I  am  so  fully  convinced  of 
your  faith  that  I  im2Jlore  you  to  MARRY  ME  AT  ONCE. 
I  do  not  ask  this,  my  own  dear  love,  as  a  vague  unmeaning 
comp*^  in  order  to  have  it  rejected  ;  but  I  cannot  bear  the 
thought  of  leaving  you  ill  and  unhappy  here  without  one 
who  ought  to  be  your  real  support  and  friend  and  soother. 
Come  then  to  my  arms  for  ever,  my  own  dear,  dear  angel ; 
and  we  will  go  together  to  Ireland  and  mutually  effect  our 
triumph.  Forgive  me,  my  dearest  Rose,  for  daring  to 
breath  a  syllable,  a  breath  against  you.  Be,  I  implore  yon, 
mine.  Let  me  watch  over  and  not  desert  you,  no  not  for  a 
day.  My  own  dearest  love,  I  ask  you  this  as  a  most  earnest 
favor  ;  name  the  earliest  day,  and  after  that  all  shall  be  as 
you  like.  I  write  with  a  burning  hand  and  heart.  I  am 
just  going  to  your  cousin's ;  how  shall  I  act  there  ?  Let 
me  find  one  word  when  I  return  at  half  past  nine.  I  leave 
this  myself.  E.  L.  B. 

*Tliis  letter  is  endorsed  by  Lady  Lytton  thus  :  "  Oh  !  why  did 
not  all  end  then  ?  My  God  !  My  God  1  there  is  no  escaping  one's 
destiny."— August  16,  1851.— R.  B.  L.       / 


94  Lord  Lyttons  Letters. 

I  have  read  over  what  I  have  written — it  seems  cold, 
weak,  anything  but  what  I  would  have  it.  I  implore  you 
to  let  your  own  heart  fill  u})  Mhat  mine  has  left  unsaid.  I 
am  so  ill,  so  wretched,  so  half  delirious,  that  I  cannot  express 
a  single  thought. 

XLV. 

To  Miss  Wheeler,  40,  Somerset  Street. 

[Anxiety  for  her  health.] 

I  only  send  my  servant  to  know  how  you  are.  I  beg 
and  implore  you  not  to  write  ;  but  send  me  verbally  your 
answer.  Pray  heaven  you  are  belter  !  I  scarcely  know 
what  I  wrote  to  you  by  your  servant,  nor  what  I  write  now, 
for  I  am  half  beside  myself.  Pray,  pray,  pray  take  all 
possible  care  of  yourself,  and  do  for  mercy's  sake  say  you 
are  better.  ^  E.  L.  B. 

XL  VI. 

To  Miss  Wheeler,  40,  Somerset  Street,  Portman  Square. 

[His  frantic  state  of  mind.] 

Oh  God  !  my  dear,  dear  girl,  my  Eosc,  my  Angel,  my 
life  !  Are  you  so  ill  ?  For  God  Almighty's  sake,  for  my 
sake,  for  the  sake  of  my  present,  my  future,  my  eternal 
happiness,  get  well,  and  I  will  do  everything,  anything  you 
wish.  I  am  too  wretched,  too  mad  to  write  plainly,  or  I 
would.  Sleep  for  heaven's  sake,  and  then  write  to  me  and 
say  you  are  better,  say  1  hat  I  can  see  you  to-morrow,  say 
that  you  forgive  me,  that  I  am  not  a  monster,  that  you  do 
not  hate  me.  Oh,  if  you  are  really  seriously  ill,  I  shall 
never  cease  to  be  miserable.  I  am  torn  by  a  thousand  tor- 
tures, half  distracted,  all  that  you  can  conceive  of  wretch- 
edness. I  would  come  but  dare  not.  I  should  not  see  you, 
and  I  w^  not  and  0*^  not  now.     To-morrow  you  will  be 


Lord  Lyttons  Letters.  95 

better,  much  better  will  you  not,  my  own,  own  Rose  ?    For 
mercy's  sake  get  well,  or  I  shall  go  mad. 

E.  B. 

Oh  if  you  loved  me  as  once,  this  letter  Avill  restore  you 
in  some  measure,  for  it  will  assure  you  of  my  deep, 
unwearied,  untouched  love,  passion,  adoration,  and  my 
growing  remorse  at  ever  having  slandered  it  or  you.  One 
word  before  night,  Rose — one  word — ''  Will  it  not  be 
better  ?"  But  sleep  now,  my  own  love,  for  God's  sake 
sleep  ! 

XLVII. 

To  Miss  Wheeler. 

[His  relief  that  she  is  better.] 

My  own  dear,  dear,  kind  angel,  God  bless  you  for  your 
letter,  and  which  has  restored  me  as  far  as  I  can  be  while 
you  are  still  ill,  so  ill.  For  beaven's  sake  who  have  you  ? 
I  was  so  terrified  and  uubappy  about  you,  tbat  I  drove 
down  and  saw  that  good  old  German,  who  told  me  00  had 
Pope,  and  then  I  went  to  him  ;  but  he  was  out  and  I 
waited,  but  be  did  not  come,  and  now  I  have  just  returned 
home,  and  found  00  letter.  Oh  !  zoo  dear,  dear,  dear 
angel  for  writing  to  me  so  kindly.  Oh  that  you  c<^  know 
what  a  load  it  has  taken  off  my  heart !  and  yet  how  very 
miserable  I  am  still,  when  I  think  of  you,  and  see  how 
painfully  you  must  have  written  to  me.  Oh  !  what  a 
wretch  I  was  to  occasion  you  such — such — ;  but  I  will  not 
renew  tliat  subject,  tho'  I  will  not  forget  it.  Oh  Rose  ! 
my  own  and  only  Love,  you  who  alone  constitute  anything 
in  my  heart  and  feelings  which  is  soft  and  dear,  will  you 
not  be  my  ©wn,  All,  all  my  own,  and  let  me  strive  to  repay 
you  for  everything  you  have  fjuffored  ?  Yet  but  get  well, 
I  implore  you  ;  get  well  and  let  rao  see  you.  Your  uncle 
has  written  to  me  enclosing  a  letter  from  your  mother ; 


96  Lord  Lyttoiis  Letters. 

his  note  is  cold,  perhaps  affronting,  but  I  forgive  it.  I  for- 
give all  but  myself ;  yoa  may  henceforth  be  really  liappy, 
and  may  I  make — so  far  as  I  can — some  part  of  that 
happiness.  Ble?s  you  from  my  very  soul  for  writiug  to 
me  ;  it  was  very  kind  in  you — very.  I  will  send  at  night 
to  know  how  you  are.  Will  you  not  leave  word  that  you 
are  better  ?  Do — but  pray,  pray  don^t  fatigue  yourself  by 
•writing  or  any  other  exertion.  Think  only  of  my  inex- 
haustible love  for  you  and  upon  all  that  it  may  yet  effect 
for  you  and  myself.  Heaven  bless  and  reward  you,  my 
kind,  dear  Eose,  and  if  it  does  not  mean  eternally  to  curse 
me,  make  you  quite,  quite  well. 

Puppy. 

Pray  keep  quiet  and  calm  ;  and  will  you  not  try  and  be 
hai)j)y  now,  my  own  love  ?    Tell  me.  Rose  ! 

XLVIII. 

To  Mrss  Wheeler,  Somerset  Street. 

[Happier  since  he  saw  Pope.] 

My  Dearest,  Darlingest  Rose, — I  am  so  much  happier 
since  I  saw  Pope,  who  assures  me  you  are  not  seriously  ill  ; 
pray,  pray  do  not  fret  nor  agitate  yourself  ;  and  when  you 
are  quite  well,  we  will  have  a  full  explanation  of  the  past. 
Suffer  me  to  hope,  my  dearest  love,  that  this  explanation 
may  be  productive  of  our  future  happiness.  It  is  right  that 
it  should  take  place ;  it  is  fair  to  hope  we  may  prolit  by  it. 
I  shall  send  my  servant  with  this.  He  will  merely  enquire 
how  you  are.  How  I  long  to  call  myself,  yet  after  your 
uncle's  letter  you  sec  nothing  but  extreme  motives,  such  as 
the  agony  of  fear  for  you  I  felt  yesterday,  could  take  me  to 
your  house.  How  grateful  I  am  that  agony  has  past  away 
in  some  measure  ;  and  yet  still  I  am  on  a  perpetual  rack  of 
fear  for  you.     Pray,  pray,  pray  take  all  possible  care  of 


Lord  Lyttons   Letters.  97 

yourself  for  the  sake  of  ono  whose  life  is  wrapt  up  in  every 
shadow  that  affects  your  own.  E.  L.  B. 

XLIX. 

To  Miss  Wheeler. 

[Meet  to-morrow.] 

My  adored  Poodle, — many,  many  thanks  for  00  darling 
letter.  Mo  is  so  happy,  me  is  wagging  my  tail  and  putting 
my  ears  down,  me  is  to  meet  00  to-morrow.  Oh  day  of 
days  !  I  cannot  tell  you  how  very,  very,  very  happy  you 
have  made  me  !  No,  my  own  love,  don't  come  before 
twelve  ;  but  really  I  shall  meet  you  !  Oh,  darling  of  darl- 
ings !  I  cannot  write  to  you  to-night,  nor  at  any  length 
now.  The  best  plan  about  the  carriage  will  be  for  you  to 
get  in  it  first,  and  it  can  then  pick  me  up  in  another  street, 
so  that  you  will  enter  it  alone.  When  you  arc  once  in,  put 
down  y®  blinds.  Oh  zoo  love  of  loves,  me  is  ready  to  leap 
out  of  my  skin  for  joy  !     Adieu.     Twenty  million  kisses. 

I  shall  be  in  y^  street  at  12.  E.  L.  B. 

L. 

To  Miss  Wheeler. 

[Shewing  bis  deep  trust  and  unshaken  confidence  in  her.] 

My  own  Darling,  Darling,  Darling  Love, — 

Your  letter  has  made  me  quite  wretched.  If  it  be  any 
comfort  to  you  to  know  that  I,  also,  have  been  thinking  over 
our  conversation,  and  have  come  to  a  different  result,  I 
assure  you,  my  own  dear,  dearest  Poodle,  that  I  feel  per- 
haps glad  of  the  circumstance,  since  it  gives  me  the  oppor- 
tunity, perhaps  the  only  one  I  shall  ever  have,  of  shewing 
the  deep  trust  and  unshaken  confidence  I  have  in  you. 
Believe  me,  my  darling  Rose,  I  have  not  a  single  shadow  of 
uneasiness  or  doubt  left  upon  my  mind.     I  have  looked 


98  Lord  Lyttons  Letters. 

there  coolly  and  inquiringly,  and  can  find  nothing  but  the 
most  unalterable  love,  and  venerating  esteem  ;  and  now,  my 
own  poodle,  my  sole  hope  and  happiness  in  life,  let  us  never 
renew  this  subject  again.  As  for  me,  I  have  already  ban- 
ished it  from  my  thought.  God  bless  you,  my  angel  love, 
and  make  you  as  happy  as  you  can  make  me  by  becom- 
ing so. 

I  write  this  in  great  haste,  as  I  ehall  write  again  in  the 
evening.  I  have  just  the  wornout  feeling  you  describe,  as 
I  was  up  all  night  ;  but  I  shall  feel  quite  recovered  by  one 
word  from  you  to-night,  telling  me  you  are  not  unhappy, 
and  that  you  understand,  and  believe,  and  trust,  your  own 

adoring,  doating. 

Puppy. 

LI. 

To  Miss  AYheeler,  40,  Somerset  Street,  Portman  Square. 
[Portugal.] 

No  letter  from  you,  my  dearest  Eose  !  Well,  I  am 
better  than  you  in  that  respect.  What  do  you  think  of 
O'Xeill's  statement  ?  I  think  it  quite  satisfactory.  I  owe 
this  to  you  with  a  certain  reluctance,  buth  on  his  account 
and  Mr.  Aldjo's,  for  the  latter  was  really  so  made  to  be 
pigeoned,  such  a  complete  Monsieur  Jourdain,  that  it  is  a 
thousand  pities  he  escaped.  I  have  been  enquiring  about 
the  chances  of  my  departure  for  Portugal,  and  find  they 
amount  to  the  number  at  Turnpike  last  night,  i.  e.,  0, 
what  a  pity  that  I  sliould  be  deprived  of  such  an  oppor- 
tunity of  showing  my  military  ardour  ! 

The  dog's  eye  is  much  better,  and  Mr.  Youatt,  of  the 
Veterinary  College,  Nassau  Street,  not  far  from  Berners 
Street,  near  the  ]Midd^  Hospital,  says  he  will  not  lose  it. 
'J'he  Crooks  have  intimated  an  intention  of  leaving  their 
abode,  because,  I  suppose,  we  did  not  bite  as  well  as  the 
do2. 


Lord  Ly  it  oils  Letters.  99 

Well,  Mrs.  Poodle,  linw  do  you  do,  and  v^hat  have  you. 
done  ?  Let  me  know  all  about  you,  for  I  am  sure  many 
changes  must  have  happened  since  the  ages  we  parted  !  As 
for  myself,  I  have  detected  8  grey  hairs  and  3  new  wrinkles. 
I  saw  Cockburn  to-day.  Tie  in  love  indeed  !  I  see  that 
we  have  monopolized  all  the  love  in  the  world.  We  are 
misers,  and  treasure  up  every  atom  of  the  real  money,  so 
every  one  else  is  forced  to  turn  coiner,  I  am  not  well  to-day, 
and  you  must  forgive  me  for  not  writing  more.  Do  not  my 
dear  girl,  attribute  my  shortness  to  coldness  or  anything 
else  that  you,  or  I,  would  in  general  be  apt  to  imagine  ;  but 
believe  me  daily  and  hourly  increasing  in  love  and  admira- 
tion for  my  own  dear,  dear  Rose. 

I  enclose  your  key.     God  bless  you  !    Adieu. 

LII. 

To  Miss  Wheeler,  40,  Somerset  Street. 

[Better  to  wail  than  marry  now. — Saw  Broflie  about  pain  in  heart. — 
"Don  Juan." — Plato. — Miss  Landon's  Book. — Diminution  of 
her  fame.] 

My  Darling  Girl, — I  have  only  just  received  your  letter. 
I  am  so  vexed  that  I  did  not  have  it  before,  owing  to  my 
having  been  with  my  eldest  brother,  who  is  just  come  to 
Town.  Are  you  really  ill  ?  I  am  so  unhappy  about  you  ! 
Don't  above  all  things  sit  up  late.  Keep  your  chest  Avarm, 
and,  in  sho.t,  for  my  sake,  for  your  own,  and  from  the 
hope  of  tiic  many  years  we  are  to  pass  together,  do  take  as 
much  care  of  yourself  as  possible.  Pray  mind  this  as  the 
greatest  favor  you  can  grant  mo.  And  did  my  dearest 
liose  think  that  I  should  not  meet  her  to-morrow,  that  she 
thinks  it  necessary  to  remind  me  that  I  am  engaged  to  do 
so  ?  I  shall  be  in  the  street  at  one  jjrecisely.  And  now 
my  angel,  don't  suffer  youself  to  be  dejected,  or  encourage 
anything  that  may  injure  your  health — rather  tiian  that. 


lOD  Lord  Lyttons  Letters. 

I  will  marry  you  directly.  Nothing  (believe  me  for  I  say 
it  from  my  very  soul)  could  recompense  me  for  your 
iinhappiness  or  ill-health.  It  would  better  to  wait  some 
months  and  be  well  off,  than  marry  now  and  be  paupers, 
but  it  would  be  "tnucli  better  to  marry  now  tliau  to  injure 
all  those  hopes  of  happhiess  which  can  alone  support  us 
thro' so  long  a  privation;  and  would  not  those  hopes, 
dearest,  be  injured  by  anything  that  you  suffer  to  prey 
upon  you  ?  Keep  then,  my  own  Rose,  as  blooming  as  you 
ought  to  be,  or  zoo  will,  like  Miss  Louisa,  drive  me  into 
marring  oo. 

The  pain  in  my  heart  is  much  better.  Of  late  it  has 
attacked  me  more  frequently  than  ever.  I  did  see  Brodie 
about  it  the  other  day  (Saturday,  aye,  yesterday),  but  he 
does  not  know  how  to  treat  it.  You  shall  charm  it  away, 
dearest,  you  are  mistaken,  I  did  enclose  the  key,  it  must 
have  fallen  out  without  your  notice  when  you  opened  the 
letter.  Your  las  de  sole  are  restored  not  so  much  the 
worse  for  their  lavation  as  I  had  expected.  Puppy  was 
particular  in  describing  the  abode  of  Mr.  Youatt,  Nassau 
Street,  not  far  from  Berners  Street,  and  near  the  Middx 
Hospital,  because  Puppy  thinks  that  all  dogs,  i.  e.  nW  ffreat 
dogs,  should  be  careful  in  their  geographical  statements. 
Perhaps  as  belonging  to  the  canine  species  he  was  mindful 
too  of  the  words  of  Dogberry  :  "  Let  your  learning  be 
seen  Avhen  there  is  no  need  of  such  vanity."  What  a  Capital 
Dogherry,  by-the-bye,  Liston  would  make  ! 

Well,  Eose,  I  liave  been,  as  I  promised,  writing  like  a 
Dragon.  My  novel  is  in  three  books.  I  have  written  out 
legibly  two,  and  as  whatever  may  be  my  literary  defects  I 
write  tolerably  quick,  I  hope  to  get  the  third  finished  in 
about  4  days. 

I  shall  then  submit  it  (is  not  that  y^  orthodox  phrase  ?) 
to  your  candid,  honest,  and  impartial  (hem  !)  opinion.  I 
am  in  a  terrible  fright  lest  the  greyhound  should  be  lost ; 


Lord  Lyttofis  Letters.  loi 

particulars  when  we  meet.  Were  you  in  bed  too  when  I 
knocked  last  night  ?  Oh,  Rose,,  my  own  angel,  it  is  when 
you  are  ill  and  unhappy,  that  I  most  long  for  you — tliat  is 
not  a  sign  of  the  selfish  love  of  which  you  have  accused  me. 
Oh,  no  !  I  feel  that  I  can  have  no  happiness  like  consti- 
tuting yours.  I  am  as  you  said  truly  enough,  so  formed 
by  nature  and  disposition  to  be  wretched,  that  I  should  be 
fo  perhaps  even  with  you,  but  never  when  you  feel  nothing 
but  the  bright  side  of  existence.  I  write  this  from  Thom- 
son's Hotel.  I  am  going  home  afterwards — to  that  home, 
dearest,  which  is  still  consecrated  by  your  breath.  Do  jou 
remember  those  two  beautiful  lines  of  Lamartine,  which, 
on  another  occasion  you  quoted  to  me  :  '*  Commo  on 
respire,"  etc.  ?  Let  me  apply  them  to  that  feeling  of  ven- 
eration and  happiness  I  experience  in  being  in  any  temple, 
however  humble,  which  you,  my  Goddess,  have  once  made 
sacred.  I  have  bought  a  copy  of  "  Don  Juan."  The  first 
time  we  have  any  opportunity,  we  will  read  it  together.  I 
have  also  ordered  a  "  Plato."  lb  is  some  years  since  I 
•  read  that  most  beautiful  of  all  visionaries.  I  am  anxious 
to  read  it  again,  now  that  I  have  found  the  most  beautiful 
of  all  visions. 

I  dine  with  my  mother  to-morrow,  and  come  what  may, 
I  shall  be  in  Somerset  Street  to-morrow.  Meanwhile,  my 
own,  own  Love,  let  nothing  molest  or  hurt  you  ;  and  if 
there  be  anything  which  can  quiet  or  render  you  happy 
that  you  wish  me  to  do,  have  no  scruple  or  false  delicacy, 
but  say  it  at  once.  I  repeat  a  thousand,  thousand  times 
that  no  blessing  the  world  can  afford  is  like  that  of  possess- 
ing your  love.  I  have  read  Miss  Landon's  book  thro'. 
Your  story  and  that  of  Erinna  arc  certainly  the  best  ;  but  I 
can  foresee  a  very  great  diminution  of  her  fame  from  this 
work.  She  should  not  write  tales  at  all — small  poems, 
songs,  ballads,  lyrics,  stanzas  would  suit  her  best.     There 


I02  Lord  Lyttons  Letters. 

is  a  tolerable  satire  just  published,   called  "  The   Greek 
Bubble." 

AVilllam  calls  on  the  G — s  to-morrow.  Adieu,  my 
adored  and  dai*ling  girl.  May  you  be  unchangeable  in  all 
things  but  your  name  and  fate.  Adieu  !  I  send  you  all 
the  kisses  you  have  left  me  \iinark8  of  Jcisses.'[ 

Liir. 

To  Miss  Wheeler,  40,  Somerset  Street. 

[Napoleon. — Elizabeth. — Lady  Caroline. — Pen-aud-ink  miniature. — 
"  Thou  didst  annihilate  the  earth  to  me."] 

What,  Rose,  my  Angel  !  Don't  you  call  my  packet  of 
yesterday  **a  long  letter,"  that  you  talk  of  my  making  you 
amends  for  yesterday  ? 

Unconscionable  girl  !  I  have  a  great  mind  not  to  Avrite 
above  one  sheet  to-day  in  order  to  show  you  what  short 
letters  «re;  indeed  I  would  if  I  did  not  think  you  might 
retaliate.  At  all  events  I  shall  reply  rather  by  i)arentheses 
than  periods,  and  so  begin  my  darling,  take  90  million 
million  million  [kisses]  ;  and  so  zoo  thinks  to  convict  me 
of  equivocation  by  saying  me  continues  to  dream,  tho'  not 
sleep  !  To  be  sure  !  oo  does  not  call  dreaming  sleep.  I 
call  it  the  most  restless,  active,  fatiguing  and  yet  delicious 
part  of  existence,  instead  of  that  pause  and  cessation  of 
life  which  philosophers  and  physiologists  will  tell  you  is 
sleep.  Sleep  forgets.  Dreams  are  all  remembrance.  Sleep 
feels  not,  hears  not,  sees  not.  Dreams  have  all  the  senses 
in  a  double  acumen.  In  a  word,  in  sleep  there  is  no 
Poodle,  and  dreams  are  all  Poodle — Poodle — Poodle.  Eh 
hieyi !  have  I  convinced  you  ?  I  am  going  to  have  the 
'*  Golden  Viv,lct,"  this  evening  ;  then  I  can  talk  tooo  about 
it,  and  reply  to  your  inpertinent  aspersions  upon  the  Poetical 
Character.     Your  comparison  of  the  Perfumery  and  Con- 


Lord  Lyttons   Letters.  103 

fectionary  is  admirable,  if  true,  which  from  Miss  Laudon's 
former  vohimes  I  can  readily  conceive. 

And  so  my  poor  Hose  was  ill  yesterday  ?  I  am  so  sorry — 
and  yet  00  wrote  to  me  !  My  own  darling,  how  I  thank  yon 
now  and  how  I  will  kiss  00  lor  it  to-morrow  !  Your  frank 
did  not  go  free,  at  which  I  am  very  glad,  as  it  served  you 
riglit  for  not  writing  a  double  letter  !  I  have  parted  with 
the  old  woman  and  the  large  cat,  otherwise  I  would  most 
certainly  have  performed  your  commands  respecting  them, 
but  I  have  another  old  woman  and  hope  to-morrow  to  have 
one  of  my  dogs,  so  that  the  love  ment  for  one  may  be 
bestowed  on  another — at  present  it  reverts  to  and  rests  with 
me  as  Lord  of  the  Manor. — Napoleon  has  gone  to  Hart- 
ford.    I  am  going  to  talk  to  you  about  him  among  other 

things.     As   for   E's   letter   about   E .     E.    masculine 

thinks  E.  feminine  must  have  learnt  mathematics,  when  it 
is  said  2  things  which  equal  a  third  equal  one  another. 
Now  perhaps  E.  feminine  thinks  her  love  to  Eose  equals  E. 
masculine's  love  to  Rose — in  that  case  since  E.  fcm's  love 
for  Rose  equals  E.  masculine's  love  for  the  same,  E.  fern's 
love  must  equal  E.  masculine's  ;  but  E.  masculine  loves  E. 
feminine  because  Rose  does  (for  Rose  and  E.  masculine  are 
one):  therefore  E.  feminine  must  love  E.  masculine 
because,  as  we  before  proved,  her  love  must  equal  his.  Q. 
E.  D.  we  see  by  this  problem  that  E.  was  justified  in  call- 
ing me  "  dear,"  and  I  am  too  well  pleased  with  the  epithet  to 
cavil.  I  will  not  show  how  the  proposition  is  false,  because 
the  hypothesis  on  which  it  rests  is  so  ;  viz.,  E.  fcmininc's 
supposition  that  her  love  for  Rose  equals  mine — a  most 
absurd  and  irrational  conclusion,  as  Euclid  and  probably 
Mr.  Thomson  would  say. 

I  agree  with  you  about  Cockburn's  lines,  I  made  the 
same  remark  about  '*  the  fair  and  gay  Eden."  It  really  is 
quite  disgraceful  to   Lady   Caroline  to   write  such   d — d 


104  Lord  Lyttotis  Letters. 

nonsense, — not,  by  the  way,  that  witli  that  pretty  little 
miniature  in  the  corner,*  it  is  right  for  me  to  talk  nonsense. 
However,  as  you  have  often  wished  to  have  my  jiictnre,  I 
could  not  resist  sending  it  yon,  only  do  take  care  of  it  now 
you  have  it,  as  it  is  disagreeable  to  have  the  bore  of  sitting 
twice.     I  think  it  a  tolerable  likeness,  don't  you  ? 

I  am  going  to  talk  to  you  gravely  and  soberly  to-morrow  ; 
I  cannot  say  it  is  the  best  news  in  the  world,  but  then  it  is 
not  the  worst.  And  for  us  Avho  are  always  in  extremes, 
mediocrity  even  in  luck  is  refreshing.  .  .  .  Why  did  I  stop 
after  that  last  sentence  ?  Guess,  guess,  darling.  No  you 
can't  ?  Well  then  !  to  kiss  a  certain  ring  on  my  hand, 
darling,  and  to  sigh  and  to  think  of  Poodle  !  Well,  I  came 
to  town  to  do  a  great  deal  of  business,  and  lo,  none  is  done  ! 
and  past  4,  too  !  However  you  must  a  long  letter  I  shall 
fill  up  this  sheet.  Well,  this  is  a  strange  thing,  this  love  ! 
It  is  really  very  mysterious  that  two  people  who  never  knew 
much  of  one  another,  should  meet,  kiss  and — and — feel 
that  all  the  world  was  nothing  in  comparison  to  each  ! 
There  is  a  line  in  the  "  Lament  of  Tasso  "  that  will  just 
express  my  idea — and  my  love  : — 

"  Thou  didst  annihilate  the  Earth  io  me. 

I  have  just  discovered,  one  line  in  Elizabeth's  note  which 
alarms  me,  says  she  ''don't  sit  up  all  night,  etc."  Now, 
Rose,  hear  me  !  I  will  write  to  you  daily  just  the  same, 
but  if  you  sit  up  late  to  write  to  me,  I  won't  hear  from  you 
at  all.  Write  to  me  when  your  uncle's  only  engaged,  and  you 
can  without  depriving  him  or  yourself  of  any  kind  of  pleas- 
ure ;  but  never  write  to  me  later  than  12  at  night.  Mind, 
I  insist  upon  this.     And  now,  my  love,  I  must  wish  you 

*  A  rough  drawing  of  "  Puppy  doing  his  triclis  "  is  here  inserted 
in  the  letter. 


Lord  Lyttons  Letters.  105 

good-bye  till  to-morrow.     "  Eemember  twelve."    God  bless 
you,  my  darling. 

Ever  most  wholly  and  affec'.  yours. 

E.  L.  B. 

There  is  something  else  in  Elizabeth's  note  which  I 
must  talk  to  you  seriously  about. 

Adieu,  Rose,  my  own,  own  beautiful  and  adored  Rose  I 
Adieu  ! 

LIV. 

To  Miss  Wheelek,  40,  Somerset  Street. 

[Verses  on  Miss  Wheeler's  sister  Henrietta. — Just  finished  novel. — 
Going  to  send  it  to  Colburu. — Hypochondria.] 

My  Darling  Poodle, — I  have  complied  with  your  wishes 
and  enclose  the  accomjjanying  verses  which  I  wrote  last 
night.  Not  knowing  your  sister  I  could  not  say  more  of 
her,  and  I  am  too  displeased  with  your  mother  to  pay  her 
those  compliments  you  suggested  ;  I  think,  however,  I  have 
said  all  that  I  well  could,  for  either,  and  I  have  found  from 
feelings  of  my  own  sufficient  subject  of  reflection  on  that 
event  which  every  individual  in  discribing  finds  familiar  to 
his  own  remembrance  and  congenial  to  his  peculiar  rights. 
If  there  is  anytliing  you  wish  altered  or  added,  you  will 
have  no  scruple  in  saying  so  ;  and  if  you  think  the  whole 
attempt  not  successful,  I  shall  have  too  much  pleasure  in 
writing  anything  to  gratify  you  not  to  hope  that  yon  will 
commission  me  to  endeavour  again  more  effectually  to  do  so. 
What  a  bitter  day  !  I  take  this  to  Town  myself.  I  am  go- 
ing to  walk  to  the  city  for  money,  and  to  do  various  other 
occupations  which  will  detain  me  till  a  late  hour.  I  ho])e, 
however,  to  hear  from  you  early  in  the  day,  and  iu  that 
trust  shall  call  at  Thomson's. 

Pray  could  you  procure  for  me  for  a  day  or  two  (your 
uncle  probably  takes  it  in)  the  Annual  Register  for  1823, 


io6  Lord  Lyttons  Letter s» 

or  could  you  look  over  any  review  about  that  time  which 
gives  an  account  of  the  last  part  of  the  Spanish  Revolution 
— the  invasion  of  the  French,  the  Condemnation  of  Riego, 
etc.?  Anything  on  that  subject  would  oblige  me  much.  I 
only  want  to  refer  to  a  single  event  in  order  to  complete  my 
novel.  I  shall  then,  I  think,  send  it  to  Colburn  ;  if  he 
won't  publish  it,  Murr.*)y  ^;(?r/ia;?.s  (and  Ebers  at  all  events) 
will.  I  shall  ask  a  hundred  pounds  for  it.  Poor  Lady  is 
very  ill ;  sympathy,  I  hope  ;  for  I  am  a  sort  of  Pandora's 
box.  And  oo,  my  own  poor  darling,  how  is  oo  tootii  ?  I  long 
to  know  all  about  oo,  and  tlio'  every  moment  of  present  delay 
is  indeed  what  the  Methodist  call  "  precious  time,"  yet  I  will 
not  stir  out  till  I  have  finished  this  and  expressed  my  most 
earnest  hope  of  your  being  better  and  free  fi'om  pain.  I 
know  not  why  it  is  that  some  are  for  ever  haunted,  as  it 
were,  with  a  Demon,  mocking  all  enjoyment,  disappoint- 
ing all  hope,  turning  the  blessed  sun  to  shade,  and  bring- 
ing before  us  nothing  but  one  black,  black  pa!l  on  which  is 
written  "  Misery."  But  I  am  not  going  to  be  lavish  of  my 
hypochondria  to-day,  and  so,  darling,  I  will  kiss  it  away  ! 
How  very  insipid  all  tics,  friendship,  affections,  seem  to 
ours  !  We  seem  in  engrossing  love  to  have  robbed  even 
our  own  dearest  relatives  and  friends  of  it.  Their  affection 
is  ice  to  our  capacities  of  receiving  and  returning  it,  and 
therefore  seems  only  coldness  in  itself.  From  our  own 
hearts  we  turn  to  those  of  others — like  the  eye  from  aclaude 
glass  to  the  reality  of  Nature  itself.  The  nature  is  as  it  was 
before  we  looked  thro'  that  bright  and  glo^ving  delusion  ; 
but  now  how  altered,  how  weak,  how  chill,  how  desolate  it 
seems  !  Adieu,  my  own  Rose,  my  life  of  life,  very  Poodle 
of  very  poodles.     Adieu  ! 

Tell  me  when  you  have  seen  Lady  Caroline,  and  tell  me 
whether  I  am  to  call  on  Miss  Spence  in  order  to  be  asked. 
I  cannot  meet  you  there. 


Lord  Lyttons  Letters.  107 


LV. 

To  Miss  Wheeler,  40,  Somerset  Street. 

[Delighted  at  her  liking  the  verses. — Never  can  tell  whether  what  he 
writes  is  good  or  bad  till  some  time  after  composition.] 

My  Adored  Poodle, — How  very,  very  kind  and  consid- 
erate 00  has  been  about  the  book!  Me  will  make  haste  to  have 
done  with  it,  certain  that  as  me  will  send  the  novel  with  it, 
the  best  method  of  thanking  you  will  be  by  a  speedy 
return.  No,  mj  darling  !  00  was  not  too  late,  nor  would  I 
for  anything  have  lost  the  pleasure  of  receiving  your  assist- 
ance. I  am  delighted  at  your  liking  the  verses.  I  never 
can  toll,  mjself,  whether  what  I  write  is  good  or  bad  till 
some  time  after  composition,  and  I  was  therefore  in  great 
doubt  as  to  your  ajiprobation  of  y^  lines. 

How  is  00  tooth  ? — 00  docs  not  mention  it,  and  me 
consequently  hopes  it  is  quite  well ;  mine  is  better,  much 
better,  ditto  ear,  ditto  all  except  my  throat  which  is  still 
swelled  and  very  painful.  My  own  love,  it  was  not  the 
disease  of  the  body  but  the  mind  which  made  my  letter  to 
you  yesterday  appear  melancholy  and  triste,  I  am  indeed 
unhappy  at  our  separation — could  you  doubt  it  that  you 
ask  me  your  question  ?  1  do  not  think  that  your  inferences 
are  right :  you  say  that  I  have  had  other  attachments,  and 
you  argue  by  that,  that  my  affection  for  you  must  be  less. 
No  my  dearest  girl,  it  required  experience  in  others  to 
teach  me  the  treasure  I  have  found  in  you.  Plad  I  never 
loved  before,  I  might  have  supposed  that  all  were  like  you, 
it  requires  much  knowledge  of  general  to  ai)preciate  indi- 
vidual character.  Had  I  not  been  acquainted  with  many, 
I  could  not  have  discovered  the  entire  value  of  the  one. 
All  my  other  attachments  seem  to  me  like  streams,  which 
meet  with  some  barrier  or  interruption,  and   so  rush  the 


io8  Lord  Lyttons  Letters. 

more  vehemently  to  mingle  and  absorb  directly  an  opening 
lias  been  made  into  one  new  and  universal  chaimcl.  But 
enough  of  this.  You  know,  my  own  Poodle,  how  I  love 
you ;  and  why  should  I  add  more  on  so  inexhaustible  a 
subject?  My  mind  is  ill  at  rest;  lam  longing  for  some- 
thing which  constitutes  and  comprises  all  enjoyment — 
"The  soul  and  sunliglit  of  life's  chilling  air  ;"  and  I  can 
find  it  not.  My  heart  is  like  my  arms  when  I  stretch  them 
at  night  and  grasp  only  the  air.  Well,  darling,  I  shall  see 
you  on  Wednesday  ;  till  then  I  am  indeed  alone  ;  till  then 
my  happiness  is  at  a  "period,"  my  very  existence  at  a 
"semi-colon," and  my  very  soul  in  a  "parenthesis."  Does 
00  think  of  oo  own  Puppy  half  as  much  as  he  docs  of  oo  ? 
Villers  has  come  to  town  :  he  has  been  vegetating  at  Salis- 
bury and  walking  into  a  great  pond  on  the  common,  from 
which  latter  predicament  he  was  extricated  by  two  women, 
wliom  he  ungratefully  designated  by  the  appellation  of 
"laughing  Hyenas." 

I  will  look  over  Elizabeth's  letter  and  send  you  the 
address  to-morrow.  And  now,  my  own  darling,  God  bless 
you  and  farewell  !  In  joy  or  sorrow,  alone  or  in  the  world, 
anywhere,  everywhere,  and  forever,  oo  own,  own 

Puppy. 

LVI. 

To  Miss  Wheeler. 

[Taken  suddenly  ill. — Villers. — Her  pamphlet.] 

My  Adored  And  Darling  Poodle, — 

I  was  so  more  than  grieved  to  write  oo  so  short  and 
mysterious  a  note  last  night  :  the  fact  was  that  the  night 
of  Miss  Spenco's  party  I  was  taken  suddenly  ill  and  during 
tJie  Avholc  of  that  night  and  yesterday  suftcrcd  a  great  deal. 
At  tlie  moment  I  wrote  to  oo,  I  was  much  worse  and 
thought  it  better  to  send  for  our  Apothecary.     I  took  that 


Lord  LyttofUs  Letters.  log 

opportuuity  of  writing  to  oo,  and  not  liking  to  alarm  oo 
unnecessarily,  said  nothing  about  my  illness.     I  am  a  veiy 
great  deal  better  to-day  ;  but  as  I  a  little  feverish  they  will 
not   let  me  go  out.     I   must,  therefore,   my   own  Angel, 
forego  the  happiness  I  had  so  ardently  hoped  for  till  Moh- 
day.     It  is  no   use  telling  oo  how  wretched   I  am   at  the 
delay — 00  can  I  am  sure  very  well  believe  it.     My  note  the 
day  before  yesterday,  my  darling  of  darlings,  inust  indeed 
have  seemed  cold  after  oo  delightful  and  dear  letter,  which 
I  had  not  then  received — to  say  the  truth  it  was  my  health 
which  made  me  think  it  doubtful  if   I  could  come   to  oo. 
Pray,  my  most  dear  girl,  don't  be  the  least  uneasy  about 
me.     TJipon  my   honour  there  is  no  cause  ;  and   I   have 
every  sort  of  nursing  here.     I  am  sure  I  shall  be  perfectly 
recovered  to-morrow,  and  will  write  oo  again  this  evening. 
Villers  has  been  here  and  exceedingly  kind  to  me.     He 
is  coming  here  again,  and  I  mention  this,  my  very  love  of 
very  loves,   least    Poodle    should    be   silly  enough   to   feel 
inclined   to   trot  here.     Talking  of  Villers,  by-the-bye,  he 
told  me  that  he  never  saw  anything  half  so  bootful  as  oo  ; 
and  this  is  the  truer,  because  he  did  not  know  how  inter- 
ested I  Avas  in  oo.     Leave  me  out  a  line  and  when  my 
servant  brings  you  my  evening  bulletin   he   can  bring  it 
back.     I  have  looked  at  your  pamphlet,  dearest,  and  will 
again.     Zoo  may  be  sure,  my  adored  girl  for  whom  I  can 
think  of  no  epithet  adequate  to  express  one  of  my  feelings, 
that  zoo  cannot  wish  more  to  be  with  Puppy  for  ever  than 
he  does,  and  even  this  day  of  privation  has  the  comfort  of 
being  one  day  nearer  to  that   final  union.     God  bless  oo, 
my  own  own,  own  darling  :  my  love  for  you  is  like  mirrors 
reflected  in  one  another  to  an    infinite  series  there  is  a 
mille  colounes  smile  for  oo  my  love.     Adieu,  oo  own 

Idolatrous  Puppy. 


no  Lord  Lyttons   Letters. 


LVII. 

To  Miss  "Wheeler. 

[Prays  thai  his  rude  temper  and  morbidity  of  mind  be  allayed. — 
Never  to  give  her  a  moment  of  unhappiness.] 

Oh !  my  own  Rose,  what,  what  can  words  or  even 
thoughts  express  or  conceive  equal  to  you  or  to  my  love  for 
you  ?  If  you  were  now  here,  which  would  predominate, 
my  fondness  or  my  adoration? 

Should  I  kneel  to  you  or  should  I  cover  you  with 
kisses  ?  My  darling,  my  angel,  I  toill  prny  at  last  and  not 
for  you  but  for  myself.  I  will  pray  that  I  may  become 
worthy,  really  worthy  of  your  love,  and  that  I  may  live 
long  to  repay  you.  I  will  pray  that  this  rude  temper  may 
be  softened  and  this  morbidity  of  mind  be  alhiyed.  Never, 
never,  may  I  give  you  thro'  my  own  fault  a  single 
moment  of  unhappiness  !  My  own  love,  if  you  could  see 
my  heart  now,  you  would  never  doiibt  it  for  the  future. 

No,  darling,  zoo  must  not  come  here.  If  I  were  the 
least  worse,  if  I  were  even  wliat  might  fairly  be  called  ill, 
I  would  not  deny  myself  such  happiness,  but  I  am  getting 
better  every  hour,  and  do  not  think  myself  sufBciently 
indisposed  even  to  ask  my  mother  to  come  here. 

Besides,  darling,  you  would  be  sure  to  be  discoTered. 

William  may  be  here.  My  brothers  may  come.  Even 
my  mother — a  thousand  things  in  short  might  and  luould 
occur  which  make  it  necessary,  my  own  darling,  for  both 
our  sakcs,  for  mine  as  well  as  yours  (since  oo  knows  oo  is  to 
be  Mrs.  Montague)  that  oo  should  stay  in  oo  kennel  like  a 
good  Poodle.  But  me  2^roniises  oo  one  thing  that  directly 
me  is  worse  mo  will  let  oo  know,  and  that  if  me  cannot 
come  to  00  in  two  days,  oo  sail  cotm  to  me  !  There,  my 
own  Rosa  Mundi,  zoo  is  satisfied. 


Lord  Lyttons   Letters.  1 1 1 

I  was  going  to  say  something  about  Miss  Spence,  but  I 
really  cannot  talk  of  indifferent  people — my  whole  soul  is 
full  of  00  !  Me'll  finish  this  to-morrow,  when  me  hopes  to 
tell  00  how  much  better  me  is. 

Well,  Angel,  me  is  just  awake — me  has  slept  like  a 
dormouse  and  is  very  considerably  better  this  morning.  Me 
woke  exclaiming  ''dear,  dear  Eose  !"  and  Lady  forthwith 
leapt  on  my  bed,  where  she  is  at  present  thrusting  her  cold 
nose  into  the  interior  recesses.  A  note  from  my  mother  : 
She  is  coming  here  this  morning.  Oh  my  dearest,  dearest 
girl,  how  I  do  thank  you  for  your  kindness,  and  how  I  do 
regret  that  I  must  deprive  myself  of  the  raptnre — for  even 
a  moment  with  with  you  is  rapture — of  seeing  you  ;  but 
you  must  be  aware  your  own  self  of  the  necessity  of  it. 
My  own,  own  love,  believe  me  that  I  am  not  ungrateful — 
the  smallest  token  of  your  affection  does  not  escape  me. 
Judge,  then  if  I  am  insensible  of  this.  Good-bye,  my 
dearest  Poodle,  for  the  present ;  me  will  write  again  in  the 
evening  and  till  that  long  moment  me  must  wait  for  oo 
answer.  Can  anything  convey  to  Poodle  my  love  ?  if  so, 
let  her  believe  that  Puppy  has  said  it,  and  what  is  more, 
thought  it  to  his  very  heart  of  hearts.  God  bless  oo  and 
grant  I  may  be  tliis  means  of  doing  it.  Ever  your  own 
faithful  Puppy  who  cares  for  nothing  but  his  Darling 
Poodle. 

LVIII. 

[Better  in  health.] 

My  Dearest  Love, — How  more  than  kind  in  oo  to  write 
me  such  a  charming  long  letter  !  I  would  not  believe  at 
first  that  it  was  all  from  oo,  I  turned  it  over  and  over 
imagining  I  should  discover  one  of  those  epistolary  cheats, 
which  you  sometimes  palm  upon  me  by  making  a  i:»acket  of 
other  people's  letters.  But  when  I  loa^  certain  it  was  all 
your  own  beautiful   handwriting,  1   kissed   it   1000  times 


112  Lord  LyttofiLS  Letters. 

before  I  ventured  to  begin  so  delightful  a  treat.  And  then 
how  Puppy  laughed  at  Poodle's  admirably  witty  descrip- 
tions !  Never,  darling,  was  there  anything  half  so  just,  so 
bright,  so  alive  as  oo  wit !  Me  was  quite  enchanted.  Me 
has  deferred  writing  till  me  was  up,  in  order  to  write  when 
mc  tuas  up,  that  oo  might  see  how  well  me  is.  Me  was  up 
all  t!.e  greater  part  of  yesterday  and  for  some  hours  the  day 
before.  It  must  indeed  be  more  than  a  serious  illness — it 
must  be  absolute  inability  to  rise  which  could  keep  me  in 
bed  all  day.  Oo  sees,  therefore,  darling,  that  all  oo  wise 
admonitions  are  useless.  In  tiie  meanwhile  I  am  doing 
marvelously  well  ;  indeed  my  constitution  is  so  elastic,  that 
it  springs  up  after  any  attack  in  one  tentli  part  of  the  time 
any  one  else's  would.  It  is  something  like  the  English 
Church  in  Waller's  repartee  to  James  2°<^  who  asked  him 
why  he  adhered  to  a  falling  Church.  "  Because,  please 
your  iMajest}^,  that  same  falling  Church  has  got  such  a 
happy  knack  of  getting  up  again."  Me  will  Tdc  quite  well 
to-morrow  and  me  will — [The  conclusion  wanting.] 

LIX. 

To  Miss  Wheeler,  40,  Somerset  Street. 

[Has  been  very  unwell — but  now  fully  recovered.] 

Look,  my  beauty,  What  you  have  reduced  me  to  in 
writing-paper  !  Did  you  ever  see  a  more  author-like  sheet? 
I  am  only  returned  from  a  long  ride,  have  only  just  read 
your  letter,  and  have  7iot  yet  warmed  my  hands,  which  is  so 
numbed  I  can  scarcely  form  a  letter.  Well,  "  never  mind  " 
the  heart  will  dictate  at  least,  so  th.it  the  words  at  least  will 
not  be  cold.  I  was  very  unwell  yesterday  with  my  ol  I 
complaint,  and  finding  myself  no  better  this  morning  took 
a  long  early  ride  after  Mr,  Warburton's  business.  Upon 
my  road  home,  I  met  your  Uncle's  carriage.  He  was  with 
some  lady  not  you,  and  all  other  ladies  are  the  same  as  one 


Lord  Lyttons  Letters.  113 

another  in  my  eyes.  And  now  love,  for  a  very  severe  bite 
for  your  most  unwarrantable  flattery  !  It  is  quite  shame- 
ful in  you  to  put  all  those  ridiculous  observations  in  the 
mouth  of  so  sensible  a  woman  as  your  friend  Mrs.  Roberts. 
All,  my  at — once — Adulator  and  Idol,  when  will  you  do 
me  the  justice  to  think  that  I  know  my  self  ?  But  perhaps 
you  are  going  to  realize  Mrs.  Roberts'  anathema  of  keeping 
comj)any  with  fools  and  puppies  nil  your  life,  and  as  you 
have  already  made  me  the  one,  so  you  are  now  preparing  to 
make  me  the  other  !  Very  well,  dearest  ;  do  with  me  what 
you  please,  so  lung  as  you  condemn  yourself  to  the  afore- 
taid  penalty  of  living  with  mo  afterwards.  Pardon,  my 
own  love,  my  dereliction  of  duty  in  Avearing  the  chain.  I 
ought  to  have  remembered  that  all  my  trinkets  are  vowed 
to  you  and  thiit  as  we  have  already  learnt  from  (or  rather 
luithoui)  Moore  to  make  "rings  and  seals,'*' so  a  certain 
pair  of  botisted  and  beautiful  arms  constitute  the  only  chain 
I  am  at  liberty  to  wear.  Yes,  Rose,  you  did  indeed  look 
and  "behave  beautifully."  As  for  me,  I  very  seldom  dare 
look  at  you,  for  fear  of  being  betrayed  into  some  unseemly 
sally  which  might  have  been  visited  with  the  most  condign 
Vengeance  of  the  Presiding  Virgin.  I  already  fancied 
myself  given  over  to  the  secular  paw  of  that  terrible  cat ; 
and  so  I  looked  at  Miss  Spence's  golden  locks  "and soothed 
the  inward  tempest  into  peace." 

No,  my  dear  love,  I  did  not  hurt  my  side  by  running. 
And  for  even  so  small  a  gem  out  of  our  mines  of  wealth  as  a 
look  from  you,  or  a  touch  of  that  dear  hand,  I  would  endure 
anything  th.it  might  be  felt  only  when  you  were  away  from 
me.  I  wonder  if  you  can  read  this  ?  I  am  so  very  cold  1 
I  Avish  you  were  able  to  feci  how  my  hetirt  beats.  And  so 
we  shall  meet  to-morrow  if  the  day  is  fine.  It  shallha  fine. 
Rose,  for  I  \\\\\  borrow  one  of  your  bright  smiles  to  make 
it  so.  You  know,  my  celestial  bluer,  that  the  magicians 
of  old  charmed  the  elements  by  stealing  the  frown  or  the 


1 14  Lord  Lyttons  Letters. 

glance,  etc.,  etc.,    of  the   most  bGauliful   woman   in  the 
world. 

I  cannot  close  this  letter  without  telling  you  that  I  am 
quite  recovered  ;  and  that  the  only  way,  since  my  disorder 
is  in  ye  heart,  to  jjrevent  a  relapse,  will  be  to  sec  you,  my 
not  Rose,  but  Hearts,  ease,  to-morrow  at  twelve  o'clock. 
Adieu,  entirely  and  ever  yours,  L.  B. 

LX. 

To  Miss  Wheeler,    Sir  John   Doyle's,  Bart,    Somerset 
Street,  Portman  Square. 

[Meeting.] 

12  '  Noon '  12 

14,  No. 
*1826* 
What  says  my  dear  Muse  to  Wednesday  ?  If  you  call 
on  me  at  four,  it  will  be  dusk  by  the  time  we  reach  Conduit 
Street.  If  we  posponed  it  to  a  later  hour,  I  fear  we  shall 
miss  the  ostensible  personage  (bethink  yourself  whether 
Campbell  could  be  of  use  in  bespeaking  the  ear  of 
Saunders).  I  will  send  to-morrow  (Wednesday)  morning  at 
nine  o'clock  for  your  answer — have  the  kindness  to  order  it 
to  be  delivered  to  my  messenger.    Adieu,  adieu  ;  ever  yours, 

E.  B. 
I   liave  discovered  your  almost  exact  resemblance,   in 
the  figure  of  a  Roman  Contadina,  just  published  in  Watts' 
"Souvenir."     It  is  delightful,  you  yourself  would  faliia 
love  with  it. 

66,   Warren  Street, 
Monday  Night. 

[Disguised  in  Mise  Lafidon's  crammed  handwriting.] 


Lord  Lyttojis  Letters.  115 


LXI. 
To  Miss  Wheeler,  40,  Somerset  Street. 

["Falkland"  not  Puppy. — Disappointed  with  it. — "The  Sandwich 
Islands." — "  Memoirs  of  a  Gentleman."] 

My  Adored  And  Darling  Poodle, — Many— no  not  thanks, 
but  kisses  for  00  beautiful  letter.  '*  Falkland  "  has  notliing 
to  do  with  Puppy.  He  is  quite  a  different  character  and 
ment  as  such.  I  have  not  drawn  a  person  even  whom  I 
should  be  flattered  to  resemble.  My  object  in  writing  and 
publishing  a  book  of  that  description,  was  to  open  some 
field  for  the  introduction  of  Poetry.  Now  if  I  had  merely 
written  an  ordinary  novel,  however  good  in  its  kind,  there 
would  have  been  nothing  at  all  in  its  nature  analogous  to 
poetry,  and  nothing  therefore  presenting  a  good  opening 
for  its  display.  This  is  the  same  fault  I  find  with 
"Sandwich  Islands,'' which  moreover,  written  as  well  as 
the  thing  possibly  could  be,  could  never  arise  into  a  high 
style  of  composition,  and  never  therefore  recompense  me 
for  the  inordinate  bore  of  writing.  Now  if  "  Falkland  " 
succeeds  at  all,  it  will  do  so  sufficiently  to  obtain  a  reading 
for  '*  Poems  ;"  and  perhaps  it  may  from  its  singula r it ji 
gain  that  readmg  for  itself  which  its  stupidity  might  other- 
wise deprive  it  of.  With  regard  to  the  want  of  incident  ; 
I  atru  disposed  upon  a  recollection  of  popular  books  to 
imagine  that  the  most  popular  are  those  which  abound 
rather  in  thoughts  than  events,  and  for  this  reason — 
thoughts  come  home  to  all  people,  events  to  very  few  : 
Every  one  has  tlioiight,  hardly  any  acted.  However,  I  own 
that  I  am  not  the  least  sanguine  in  ''Falkland."  I  own 
more.  I  am  exceedingly  disappointed,  now  that  I  liavc 
finished  it,  with  my  attempt.  Literally  and  seriously,  it 
falls  very,  very  far  short  of  the  plan  I  had   intended   to 


1 1 6  Lord  Lyttotis  Letters. 

execute.  But  to  finish  this  subject,  the  book  after  all  is 
only  a  trial.  It  has  cost  me  little  trouble  and  yet  much 
more  than  any  other  book  of  the  sort  ever  would  again. 

As  f(jr  the  "  Sandwich  Islands''  or  the  ''  Memoirs  of  a 
Gentleman,"  I  would  finish  either  in  a  fortnight,  and 
intend  getting  on  with  each  and  sending  the  beginnings  to 
you,  that  you  may  decide  wliich  shall  be  concluded  first. 
If  "Falkland"  succeeds  I  shall  never  publish  the  "  Sand- 
wich Islands,"  I  shall  have  got  heyond  it ;  it  would  be  like 
going  back  from  College  to  School  ;  but  I  should  the 
''  ^lemoirs  of  a  Gentleman,"  tho'  not,  I  think,  till  towards 
the  end  of  the  season.  My  own  darling  zoo  is  is  quite 
wrong  in  taking  up  the  idea  that  Puppy  has  made  Falk- 
land his  speaking  trumpet,  and  therefore  I  shall  not  answer 
00  pretty  and  witty  observations  on  oo  assumption  of  that 
error. 

Henry  has  serious  thoughts  of  going  to  Columbia.  Poor 
fellow  !  I  begin  to  love  him  now  I  think  it  possible  I  may 
lose  him.  I  have  done  much  to  dissuade  him  from  it.  Oh 
Rose,  my  own,  own  Rose,  could  you  but  know  how  my 
heart  longs  for  you,  how  from  every  occupation  and 
thought  it  turns  to  you,  how  all  joy  or  at  least  that  which 
is  termed  so,  is  cold  and  insipid  because  you  are  not  here, 
how  I  feel  that  if  I  only  saw  you  I  should  bo  contented, 
that  I  would  not  even  ask  to  speak  to,  or  even  touch  you — 
then,  my  adored  Rose,  oo  would  at  last  know  that  I  do  love 
you  not  as  others  love,  but  with  an  affection  which  beggars 
all  words  to  convey  even  the  faintest  idea  of  its  nature  and 
extent.  Do  you  know.  Angel,  that  Ihe  only  thing  which 
consoles  me  for  not  being  with  oo  when  oo  is  low  spirited 
( r  ill,  is  the  reflection  that  oo  is  not  with  me  when  I  am  ? 
And  jour  Chest,  your  arm,  darling,  how  are  they  ?  was  it 
not  imprudent  to  go  out  to-day  so  much  ?  Remember  that 
you  have  promised  to  take  care  of  ooself — the  greatest  care. 
Mind  00  keep  that  promise,  or  I  will  write  to  oo  only  three 


Lord  Lyttons   Letters.  117 

lines  a  day  !     Will  that  be  a  punishment.  Poodle  ?    Ah  !  I 
hear  00  say,  "  Vain  Puppy  !" 

I  enclose  you  a  letter  from  the  Baron  de  Rutzen  about 
y«  Carlsbad  waters  ;  you  had  better  have  advice  which  waters 
you  are  to  take.  Pray  can  you  find  any  notes  from  E.  Gas- 
coignc  ?     Do  send  them  if  you  can  ! 

I  was  sorry,  darling,  that  I  said  anything  against  your 
mother's  feelings  the  other  day,  since  then  I  bad  your 
letter,  mentioning  her  i)resents  ;  I  think  that  shewed  heart 
— a  capability  of  receiving  impressions.  I  am  rather 
inclined  to  suppose  she  could  feel  warmly  to  you,  if  you 
would  seem  to  do  so  to  her — not  by  great  actions,  but  by 
little  appearances.  Us  petits  soms,  endearing  expressions, 
etc.  IIo'.v  far  you  think  that  worth  while,  rests  with  your- 
self ;  but  if  you  do  care  about  her  affection,  it  would  be 
advisable  to  make  the  effort.  Tell  me  about  Lady  Caroline. 
Henery  has  a  note  this  morning,  I  have  not  yet  been 
honored.  I  shall  call  nowhere  till  I  go  to  Town  for  good. 
Ellon  lias  been  in  London  for  a  few  days,  but  I  only  heard 
it,  I  believe  indeed  she  is  still  detained.  And  now,  my 
own  Poodle,  Puppy  must  wish  00  good-bye.  Think  of 
Puppy  ;  but  tiiat  me  knows  00  will  !  As  for  me,  me  is  all 
thought  of  Poodle.  Oh,  how  me  dreamt  of  00  last  night ! 
Farewell,  God  ble:^s  00.  E.  L.  B. 

I  must  have  **  Fallcland"  hach  again  io-morrow,  Pray 
let  me  know  early  how  00  arm  and  chest  are. 

0  zoo  darl'g. 
LXIL 
To  Miss  Wheeler,  40,  Somerset  Street. 
[Nil pok'on.— Pain  cutting  a  tooth.— Elizabeth. — Miss  Hodgson.] 

H\  Dear,  Dear  Rose, — 

What  shall  I  say  to  you  in  answer  to  your  letter  ? 
Think  for  me  of  everything  which  the  most  passionate 
attachment  and  gratitude  can  suggest,  / have  literally  no 


Ii8  Lord  Lytto7is  Letters. 

words  to  thank  you — none  !  You  may  conceive  the  transi- 
tion of  feeling  which  it  occasioned,  and  the  pleasure  you 
will  find  in  the  happiness  you  gave  me  will  be  my  best 
method  of  thanking  you.  I  can  fully,  my  own  dearest 
love,  enter  into  your  feelings.  I  did  not  mention  y^  circum- 
stance with  sufficient  consideration  or  foresight,  and  there- 
fore deserved  what  you  have  now  so  mure  than  amply 
repaid.  I  never  thought  before  that  the  Quarrels  of  Lovers 
could  be  such  a  renewal  of  Love  !  Think  you  not.  Rose, 
that  it  was  almost  dangerous  to  find  so  much  pleasure  in 
reconciliation — it  may  be  an  inducement  to  quarrel  ? 

And  shall  I  see  you  on  Saturday  at  twelve  ? 

I  am  so  happy,  dearest  at  the  thought,  we  are  a  world 
of  kisses  behind  hand,  and  we  must  endeavour  to  pay  off 
the  arrears.  William  is  staying  here,  but  leaves  me  to-day 
to  dine  with  the  Guscoignes,  Napoleon  comes  here  in  his 
place,  but  leaves  me  in  the  morning. 

I  am  in  great  ])ain  with  the  cutting  of  my  last  tooth  of 
toisdom.  Say  something  witty  on  the  subject /find  it  too 
serious  for  a  joke.  Thank  you  dearest,  for  Elizabeth's 
letter.  What  she  is  kind  enough  to  say  I  attribute  to  its 
right  cause — Viz.,  to  her  wish  to  reconcile  you  to  your 
choice,  If  she  to  whom  I  have  and  could  say  nothing 
flattering  should  sjieak  well  of  me,  how  much  more  must 
/,  being  so  flattered,  speak  well  of  her  ?  I  am  therefore 
afraid  of  saying  anything,  least  it  should  be  thought  merely 
the  law  of  retaliation — the  "you  shall  be  Ovid  and  Tibullus 
I  !"  But,  soberly  and  gravely,  I  should  be  sincerely  glad  if 
she  may  hereafter  like  me,  because  I  would  not  have  any 
bar  or  obstacle  to  the  continuance  of  a  friendship  which 
gives  you  so  much  pleasure,  and  I  would  not  have  marriage 
cliange  or  diminish  a  single  one  of  your  affections.  With 
ri'gai'd  to  Miss  Hodgson's  fear  of  gaucherie,  etc.,  you  know 
that  I  observed  to  you  how  very  good  her  manners  were  and 
how  very  uncommon  in  one  so   young.     Of  her  beauty  I 


Lord  Lyttons   Letters.  119 

have  already  spoken  ;  and  to  conclude  this  subject,  I 
merely  say  in  answer  to  her  flattery.  "  They  best  can  give 
it  who  deserve  it  most." 

Thank  you,  my  dearest  Rose,  a  thousand  times  for  your 
commission  about  the  waters.  I  shall  see  about  them 
instiintly.  My  dear,  dear  Rose,  may  they  do  that  office, 
v/hich  I  trust  will  indeed  belong  to  me — rid  you  of  every 
pain  !  Forgive  Puppy  if  he  writes  no  more  now.  The 
great  dog  his  brother  is  calling  on  him  every  moment  to 
come  away.  He  sends  his  heart  to  Poodle.  Adieu,  my 
dearest  love  {inarks  of  kisu&\.  If  this  letter,  my  darling 
Poodle,  is  not  everything  kind  and  worthy  of  your  letter, 
it  is  because  my  brother  is  making  such  a  dreadful  noise 
that  I  don't  know  a  word  I  write. 

LXIII. 

To  Miss  Wheeler,  40,  Somerset  Street. 
[Portman  Square. — Toothache. — "The  lost  man."] 

Rose,  Rose,  My  Adored  And  Darling  Rose, — Ten  million 
— not  thanks,  but  parentheses  for  your  letters.  I  fear,  my 
dearest  girl,  that  my  letter  yesterday  was  short,  and  I  know 
it  did  not  say  half  enough  ;  but  what  letter,  what  words 
ever  did  ?  Even  our  parentlieses  leave  all  but  the  100th 
part  of  our  love  inexprest. 

Your  Mother's  letter  seems  kind,  and  I  long  very  much 
to  see  the  preface  she  speaks  of.  Pray  tell  me  what  Miss 
Spenco  says  to  it  ;  and  could  you  not  contrive  to  let  mo 
look  over  some  little  passage  of  your  writing?  I  had  so 
promised  myself  the  happiness  of  seeing  you  to-day  at  that 
temple  of  Chastity  and  Chatter,  that  I  scarcely  know  how 
to  controul  my  disappointment.  The  fact  is  that  my  infan- 
tine tooth,  which  gave  me  so  much  pain  yesterday,  behaved 
still  more  ungratefully  last  night  ;  and  the  whole  of  my 
mouth  and  throat  are  so  grievously  painful  and  inflamed. 


120  Lord  Lyttons  Letters, 

tliat  I  cannot  even  speak  with  any  degree  of  "ease  to  my- 
self or  of  intelligibility  to  others."     I  am  therefore  sitting 
in  penance  and  flannel,  practising  patience  against  the  gout, 
and  invoking  to  my  diseased  tonsils  all  the  aids  of  Fortitude 
and  Gargle  ;  but  ever  and  anon,  even  as  a  hand  swecpeth  a 
piano  comes  a  sharp  hurrying  agony  across  the  whole  range 
of  my  masticating  ntent-ils,  ])ntting  the  finish  to  my  mis- 
fortunes and  giving  me  shrewd  suspicions  of  an  universal 
rjbelliou  in  that  refractory  region.     I  send  you,  my  darling, 
a  book  which  I  have  borrowed  for  a  day  or  two  for  that 
express  purpose.     I  seems  to  me  excessively  clever,  and  I 
think   will   amuse   you.     The  story  of  "The   lost   Man" 
shows,  I  think,  very  great  powers  for  a  much  higher  style 
of  composition.     Napoleon  was  here  yesterday  and  diverted 
me  much.     I  don't  think  I  shall  live  with  him — at  all  events 
I  shall  take  some  time  to  decide.     By-the-bye,  he  saw  Lady 
Caroline  the  other  day.     She  asked  if  I  had  seen  much  of 
you  and  wished  much  to  "  pump  "him  ;  Poor  man  !  he  was 
and  is  perfectly  in  the  dark  as  to  the  whole  affair.     Ten  mil- 
lion more  kisses,  my  own  darling,  for  your  letter  which  is 
just  arrived.     It  is  read,  and   nou'  before  it  is  answered, 
take  the  following  \)narlcs  of  lcis^es\     Pray,  darling,  shall 
we  not  kiss   prettily  to-morrow.     Darling  (D)(A)(Pi)(L)- 
(I)(N)(G)  ?     Zoo  must  excuse  my  most  v/retched  of  i)aper. 
I  have  no  other  in  the  house,  and  when  one  lives  in  the 
country,  one  must  put  up  with  the  various  inconveniences 
attendant  on  rustication.     Oh  !  what  a  twinge  was  there  ! 
Fie  !  Fie  !   Fie  !     Now  do  you  really  believe,  Rose,  that  I 
can  swallow  (particularly  with  such  a  dilapidated  throat) 
all  the  amazing  quantity  of  "fudge  ''  as  Mr.  Burchell  wd 
say,  with  w^- you  have  filled  your  letter?     Vain  as  I  am, 
my  vanity  is  not  of  so  capacious  a  credulity  but  "  no  more 
of  this  an  thou  lov'st  me."     I  have  just  finished  Lawrence's 
"Lectures."     How  very  much  disappointed  I  ain  I    There 


Lord  Lyttofis  Letters.  121 

is  nothing  so  interesting  as  inquiry  into  the  connection 
between  mind  and  body,  and  nothing  really  profound,  or 
evidently  ti-ne,  has  ever  been  said  on  the  subject.  How 
weary,  stale  and  unprofitable  nearly  all  books  upon  morals 
seem  to  me  !  How  much  that  is  shallow  appears  to  me  in 
what  is  usually  thought  deep  !  How  much  of  error  in 
what  has  hitherto  been  received  as  an  axiom  !  The  more 
v,'e  reflect  ourselves,  the  less  we  arc  satisfied  with  the 
thouglits  of  others  ;  and  this  is  one  reason  among  the  many 
why  old  men  so  seldom  admire  (anything  but  00  at  least). 

Remember  to-morrow.  My  grey  horse  is  returned.  I 
am  going  to  sell  him  forth  with.  I  shall  not  indulge  in  a 
single  luxury  till  I  have  completed  my  "  litery  labours," 
which  for  the  last  2  or  3  days  have  been  entirely  at  a  stop, 
and  I  am  in  too  great  pain  to-day  to  be  able  to  take  advan- 
tage of  my  confinment.  The  '^  Satire"  I  sliall  not 
touch  till  I  see  how  "Falkland  "  succeeds.  I  am  in  some 
doubt  whether  I  shall  write  an  article  Agst  the  Portuguese 
Expedition  ;  perhai)s  the  reward  would  not  be  worth  tlie 
trouble. 

And  now,  my  own  darling,  let  me  turn  wholly  to  you 
— to  you,  to  whom  are  given,  like  the  power  of  St.  Peter, 
the  keys  and  entrance  of  heaven,  my  most  beatiful  bride, 
my  everything  that  the  softest  kiss  can  breathe.  I  have 
been  suffeiing  myself  to  dream   over  the  future  ;     I  have 

drawn  in   my  mind's  eye  all  except  those  odious  C n, 

which  I  venture  to  hope  for  as  possible. 

Thank  you.  Rose,  for  believing  my  love  at  last.  There 
is  nothing  on  earth  but  one  great  thought,  and  that  is  00. 
Terror'&  Lady  Terror  send  their  best  regards.  Her  Lady- 
ship object  to  the  unseemly  forwardness  of  Mrs.  Poodle  in 
transmitting  such  hasiatory  messages  to  Mr.  Terror. 
Lady  Terror  is  not  jealous  ;  but  cannot  help  having  a 
proper  regard  to  her  own  dignity,  and  to  the  respect  due 


122  Lord  Lyttoiis   Letters. 

to  the  admirable  Mr.  Puppy,  with  whom  they  are  at  present 
residing.     Adieu,  my  life,  my  love,  my  own,  own  Poodle. 

F..  L.  B. 

LXIV. 

To  Miss  Wheeler,  40,  Somerset  Street. 

[Murmj'. — Lady    Caroline's    introduction. —  Miss    Wheeler's    Ariel 

Letters.] 

My  own  Beautiful  Rose, — How  does  the  rain  agree  with 
your  bloom  ?  and  pray  how  comes  it  that  you  did  not  have 
my  letter  written  at  4  o'clock  before  you  finished  yours 
about  9  or  10  ?  Do  let  me  know  how  your  neck  is — oh, 
that  beautiful  stem  to  that  still  more  beautiful  flower — 
would  I  were  a  bee  to  hang  about  it  !  My  own  angel  !  no 
spirit,  no,  not  a  daughter  of  Ariel  himself,  could  write  half 
such  light  and  delicately  beautiful  letters  as  you.  Your 
softness  is  like  tlie  due  on  your  own  emblem,  and  your  wit 
as  airy  and  as  brilliant  too,  as  the  prettiest  butterfly  which 
ever  hovered  about  it,  or,  to  change  the  metaphor 
altogether,  and  take  one  from  Moore,  your  mind  combines 
"  with  i\\<djiasli  of  the  gem  the  solidity  too."  But  there 
now  !  I  can  fancy  you  poohing  and  "  fieing  "  your  answer, 
not.  Love,  without  a  sly  look  at  the  glass  to  see  how  pretty 
you  are  and  a  full  internal  conviction  that  as  the  image 
you  see  there  is  reflected  from  the  prettiest  face  in  the 
world,  so  that  face  itself  is  only  the  reflection  of  the  mind 
within.  Ah  !  Rose,  dear  Rose,  never  did  you  write,  say, 
or,  think,  anything  half  so  delightful  or  dear  as  those  3 
lines  from  Byron,  wiiich  I  always  thought  so  bad  before, 
:iad  vv'hich  I  now  think  the  best  he  ever  wrote.  When, 
when,  when  shall  I  indeed  "■  take  the  rest  ?"  Oh  !  that 
first  of  December,  will  it  never  come  ? 

I  have  an  invitation  in  written  form  from  Miss  Spence 
for  Monday.  It  will  be  so  "refreshing"  as  the  Neio 
Monthly  Magazine  w*^  say,  to  see  you.     And  so,  dearest,  I 


Lord  Lyttons  Letters.  123 

have  never  seen  you  look  so  well !  I  wish  you  would  know 
when  you  do  look  well  !  and  I  do  lay  my  most  conjurjal 
mji\ciions  {someivJiat  premature,  but  that  is  to  prepare  you) 
to  look  most  particularly  well  at  Miss  Spence's  on  Monday. 
I  think  by-the-bye  that  the  air  of  that  room  is  rather  like 
the  atmosphere  round  Venus  (why,  I  wonder  ?),  for  you 
looked  most  provokingly  charming  there  the  other  not  day, 
but  year,  or  lustrum,  or  rather  century.  I  have  sent  for 
the  "Golden  Violet,"  but  in  vain.  Your  imitation  of  the 
Landon  writing  is  excellent  ;  but  then  you  are  such  a 
naughty,  dear,  changeable  mock-bird. 

Let  me  know,  love  what  your  opinion  about  Dulwich  is, 
as  I  think  of  going  to  see  the  house  for  Mrs.  Warburton 
to-morrow.  AVell,  1  must  leave  off  now,  as  I  am  going  to 
Murray.  I  shall  conclude  wlien  I  have  his  answer,  hoping 
by  that  time  to  have  some  communication  from  you 
to  console  me  for  the  answer  I  am  quite  certain  he  will 
give.  I  send  you  one  million,  700  &  43  kisses  and  one  bite. 
Adieu  for  the  present.  Tout  a  vous,  tho'  a  French  phrase, 
not  French  scarcely,  and  certainly  not  English  !  Well, 
dearest  (by-the-bye,  this  love  ruins  one  in  writing  paper) 
— Well,  I  have  been  to  Murray,  and  the  great  man  has 
not  had  time  to  look  over  my  MS. — one  of  the  miseries 
of  authorship.  I  am  to  call  again  in  a  few  days.  I  can- 
not say  I  am  very  well  pleased  with  this  Si)ccimen  of  the 
Pleasures  of  Publishing.  Entre  nous,  Lady  Caroline's 
Litroductory  note  to  Murray  was  not  very  flattering,  and 
Murray's  behaviour  in  consequence  of  it  very  little  more 
so  ;  but  enough  of  this.  Tell  me,  by  the  way.  Rose,  the 
Polish  fcujierstition  about  gems  ;  I  don't  know  it.  For- 
give me  for  not  bulicving  Miss  Spence's  Eulogium.  Look 
again,  and  you  will  see  it  is  of  mj/  brother  that  she  talks. 
I  am  going  to  write  to  Lady  Caroline  to-day,  if  I  have 
time  ;  for  I  am  somewhat  like  all  other  idle  people — always 
excessively  busy.     Ah,  Rose,  am  I  not  "  to  expect  you  to 


124  Lord  Lyt toils  Letters. 

give  me  an  empire  ?"  What  empire  is  to  me  like  tliat  of 
the  ''  one  soft  heart "  for  which  Mazeppa  says  so  wisely  he 
would  have  given  all  the  '"'  Ukraine  back  again  ?"  My 
poor  dear  girl !  have  you  a  headache  !  I  am  .so  sorry.  I 
wish  indeed  you  had  my  ehoulder  to  lean  upun,  and  I  wish 
that  my  kiss  could  be  like  Queen  Elanor's,  and  kiss  away 
any  ])oisoii  that  can  infect  your  health  or  happiness. 

Tell  me  how  you  like  "  TorHill "  W^  thinks  it  wretched, 
and  I  could  not  read  two  pages  of  it  ;  bur  then  indeed  I  was 
thinking  of  you.  I  shall  begin  my  novel,  which  you  ask 
for,  next  week — that  is,  if  you  will  let  me  ;  for  I  can  neither 
write,  talk  or  think  of  any  one  but  you — there,  dearest, 
there's  a  kiss  for  you  !  I'm  going  to  dine  at  Lincoln's  Inn 
to-day  ;  and  to-morrow  I  am  going  to  see  Dulwich  and  shall 
tell  you  what  Mr.  Warburton  says  of  the  Cottage.  Don't 
therefore  expect  to-morrow  to  hear  from  me  before  the  even- 
ing. How  very  singular  that  my  note  sh'^  not  have  been 
delivered  till  so  late  ;  this  I  will  leave  myself.  When,  when 
sliall  we  meet  again  without  Miss  Spence  ?  Adieu,  dearest. 
I  send  you  a  drop  from  an  inexhaustible  ocean  in  the  follow- 
ing love.      Vive  vale  et  sis  memor  nostri. 

E.  L.  B. 
LXV. 

To  Miss  Wheeler,  40,  Somerset  Street. 

[Borough. — Dulwich.] 

Thank  you,  thank  you,  dearest — yon  have  made  me  so 
happy.  I  shall  write  to  you  this  evening.  I  go  out  after 
the  Borough  at  G,  and  shall  now  ride  to  Dulwich  in  the 
morning.  You  cannot  think  how  your  letter  has  relieved 
me.  Ic  is  quite  as  if  you  had  taken  from  me  a  nightmare. 
Shall  I  not  be  at  Miss  Spence's  to-morrow  nii^ht  ? 
Adieu  !     Ever  most  affecly.  yours. 

E.  B. 


Lord  Lyttons  Letters.  125 


LXVI. 

To  Miss  Wheelee. 

[Cockburn  ill. — Map  of  China.— Pitt,  the  Arch  Cheat  of  the  Country.] 

I  am  very  sorry  that  I  could  not  write  to  you  yesterday 
evening.  Just  as  I  Avas  going  to  Dulwicli  I  received  a  note 
from  Cockburn,  saying  he  was  extremely  unwell,  and  wished 
to  see  me  immediately.  I  was  therefore  obliged  to  post- 
pone that  excursion  till  to-day  and  to  stay  with  Cockburn 
till  too  late  to  write  to  you — There  my  own  fair  Rose,  do 
you  forgive  me  ?  If  you  do,  you  shall  have  3  kisses.  If 
you  don't  you  shall  have  one  terrible  bite.  Well,  dearest,  I 
am  to  see  you  to-night — in  9  hours  !  Hoav  happy  that 
makes  me  !  Perhaps,  by-the-bye,  W"^  may  come  with  me. 
I  want  him  to  be  as  fascinated  with  you,  as  he  will  be  after 
having  seen  and  spoken  with  you.  As  it  is,  I  need  not  say 
he  is  a  great  admirer  of  yours — what  man  from  the  ago  of 
16  to  60  is  not  ?  At  this  moment  he  is  engaged  in  a  vio- 
lent discussion  upon  the  nature  of  "  Miracles."  The  whole 
question  might,  I  think,  be  solved  in  two  words,  but  then 
the  argument  w^  be  over.  What  disputant  ever  wished 
that  ? 

How  wenry  I  am  with  all  the  ordinary  subjects  which 
employ  or  agitate  opinion.  All  things  seem  to  be  alike  the 
discussion  which  is  stunning  mo  this  moment  :  a  groat 
deal  of  superfluous  clamour  about  something  you  might 
answer  directly,  only  it  is  never  worth  the  trouble  to  do  so. 
Did  I  say  all  things  ?  Yes,  dearest,  all  things  in  which 
you  are  not  concerned  ;  those  from  a  distinct  genus  or 
species  which  is  too  sacred  to  bo  talked  of  lightly  or  ever 
included  in  the  "communia"  of  the  world,  did  you  ever. 


126 


Lord  LyttorCs  Letters. 


/ 

China,          \ 

(or  love  for 

\ 

you).            / 

% 

-^^^, 

love,  see  the  Chinese 
map — it  will  give,  you 
some  idea  of  the  geo- 
graphy of  my  own 
heart.  Lc  Voice !  I 
nndcrstand  I  have 
every  probably  chance 
of  the  Borough  ;  but 
we  must  not  be  too 
sanguine  yet.  You 
are  right  as  to  my 
motto,  and  in  y''  house 
I  will  play  the  boldest 
game  ever  played  since 
Pitt's  time — the  arch  cheat  of  the  country.  In  politics, 
like  whist,  tricks  are  more  certain  than  honours.  I  will 
play  for  one,  and  trust  to  luck  for  the  other.  Alas  !  that, 
after  all,  one  should  only  despise  what  one  takes  so  much 
trouble  to  win  !  So,  my  Dream,  you  are  going  to  be  more 
beautiful  than  ever  to-night  !  I  never  told  yim,  Eose — 
tho'  I  have  internally  felt  the  greatest  gratitude  for  it — hoAV 
much  you  have  charmed  me  by  your  consideration  of  my 
request.  Ah,  what  human  skill  could  ever  make  the  Rose 
more  beautiful  than  it  is  ? 

My  mother  is  daily  expected  in  Town.  I  send  you  a 
letter  from  Cockburn,  received  about  the  same  time  I 
renewed  our  correspondence  from  Knebworth.  Don't  rack 
your  brains,  love,  to  know  what  was  contained  in  the  part 
I  have  torn  out.  The  reason,  not  to  tantalize  you  for  my 
doing  so,  was  that  other  names  besides  yours  Avcro  men- 
tioned. You  see,  dearest,  I  am  not  that  very  general 
admirer  you  seem  to  think  me.  AVell,  here  I  must  leave 
oli  now.  Pray  let  me  know  how  you  are  and  all  about  you, 
and  take  the  following  [marks  of  kisses]. 


Lord  Lyttons  Letters.  127 

Dear,  dear,  dearest  Rose,  ever  most  passionately  and 
faithfully  yours.  E.  L.  B. 

LXVII. 

To  Miss  Wheeler,  40,  Somerset  Street. 
[Lady  Caroline. — Tooth-aclie. — Novel  nearly  finished.] 

My  own  pretty  Poodle  with  the  grey  eyes  and  black  tail, 
one  carl  of  which  last,  I  am  in  such  doubt  whether  to  have 
(mark  the  good  of  your  marginal  hint,  by-the-byc)  Avovcn 
into  a  chain,  or  twisted  into  a  ring,  or  put  into  a  large, 
large  locket.  My  own  pretty  Poodle,  how  docs  00  do  ? 
Ah  !  that  odious  tooth-ache — well  do  I  know  and  well  can 
I  pity  your  sufferings.  Pray  let  me  know  early  to-morrow 
how  it  is.  Mine  still  continues — face,  ear,  jaw,  throat, 
teeth — one  pain.  But  one  gets  accustomed  to  even  evil  at 
last,  which  alone  makes  me  hope  that  T  shall  be  able  to 
endure  you  as  a  wife,  or  that  I  shall  be  able  to  endure  my- 
self till  yon  are.     Do,  dearest,  take  care  of  ooself. 

I  am  in  such  rage  and  despair  that  the  waters  have  not 
come.  I  hope  by  to-morrow  that  they  Avill  certainly  be  in 
Town.  Ah  Eose,  my  own  own  Rose,  how  indeed  shall  we 
be  able  to  support  the  long,  long  time  that  is  to  take  place 
before  wo  are  all  in  all  to  each  other ;  but  I  own  to  you 
that  I  cannot  persuade  myself  that  we  are  not  yet  "  to  meet 
as  we  have  met !"  I  look  forward  with  hope  to  one  of  those 
thousand  opportunities  which  love  only  knows  how  to 
improve,  and  which  we  shall  not  therefore  be  sentenced  not 
to  find.  Puppy  and  Poodle  must  get  in  spite  of  thom  all 
— what  ?  Guess,  love  !  Does  00  guess  ?  If  so,  00  smiles 
even  in  spite  of  the  toothache.  Yes,  my  own  Quintes- 
sence of  Darliiigry,  let  us  trust  to  our  own  alfoction, 
which  is  better  even  than  good  luck.  As  long  as  we  do  so 
trust,  we  cannot  despair.  In  the  meanwhile  I  shall  meet 
you  at  Miss  Spence's — any  and  everywhere — till   we  can 


128  Lord   Lyttons  Letters. 

meet  alone.  Zoo,  my  own  darling,  will  be  happier  than 
me,  because  oo  does  not  love  with  that  vehemence  and 
passion  which  I  do.  I  do  not  dispute  your  attaclnnent,  nor 
its  nature,  nor  its  purity,  nor  its  strength,  nor  its  reality — 
all  that  I  say  is  that  it  is  cooler  and  less  iiitense  than  my 
own,  and  you  can  bear  absence  better  because  you  can  feci 
it  less.  You  can  live  upon  hope  better  than  I  can.  I  can 
only  turn  forever  and  forever  to  Remembrance  and — but  I 
will  not,  my  own  darling,  afflict  you  by  saying  more  on  this 
subject.  I  ment  to  have  written  you  only  a  light  and 
flijipant  letter,  and  I  will  yet  keep  my  intention.  Poor 
Lady  Caroline  !  I  should  think  that  except  the  late  Queen 
there  never  was  a  woman  so  fallen  and  degraded  from  all 
she  really  might  have  been. 

To  do  wrong  is  nothing — to  be  reproached  with  it  by 
Lady  Gresley  is  indeed  the  very  abyss  of  humiliation.  I 
intend  calling  there  directly  my  tooth  is  the  least  better — 
perhaps  like  Miss  Spence,  she  will  ask  me  to  meet  you. 

Aprojws  of  Miss  Spence,  how  does  the  novel  get  on  ? 
Let  me  know  when  your  labours  will  be  finished.  As  for 
mine,  I  only  wait  for  two  books  which  I  cannot  get  and  yet 
must  refer  to  before  I  put  the  finishing  stroke.  One  hard 
day's  work  will  complete  it — and  then  woe  to  all  ye  book- 
sellers and  Publishers,  woe  !  I  have  just  thought  (oh  that 
last  shoot !)  of  a  probable  cure  for  our  toothache.  Some 
barbarons  nation  or  other,  believing  woman  was  (as  in 
Genesis)  taken  from  the  body  of  the  man,  suj)poses  that  love 
is  nothing  more  than  yearning  of  the  divided  ptirts  to  join 
together  again.  Now  I  suppose  our  toothaches  of  this  nature. 
Once,  darling,  our  kisses  united  our  moutlis  so  closely  that 
they  were  one — they  are  now  only  pining  to  be  once  more  so 
united.     I  return  your  "  Will."*    It  seems  to  me  to  mani- 

*  Extract  from  will  of  Rosina  Anne  Doyle  Wheeler,  dated  Jau.  3rd, 
1837:— "I  do  will  and  bequeath  all  and  every  real  estate  and 
estates,  as  also  my  copyhold  and  customary  estate  or  estates  of  \  hat.*n- 


Lord  Lyttons  Letters.  129 

fest  every  proper  feeling  towards  your  mother.  As  for  tlie 
rest,  my  adored  girl,  I  cannot  speak  to  you  upon  so  painful 
and  bitter  a  subject.  To  turn  to  something  more  light,  1 
enclose  you  a  letter  just  received  from  my  cousin  Mr. 
Pigott,  partly  because  it  illustrates  the  maxim,  "  Save  a  thief 
from  the  gallows  and  he'll  cut  your  throat,"  for  I  preserved 
him  the  other  day  from  utterly  ruining  himself  by  deal- 
ing with  Jews,  and  in  return  he  wishes  mo  to  ruin  myself 
by  dealing  with  him.  To  this  I  shall  put  a  most  peremp- 
tory negative.  I  have  this  other  leason  in  sending  it  you. 
I  wish  you  to  see  that  even  the  greatest  fools  can  be  in  love, 
and  that  we  must  therefore  be  sure  to  excel  them  in  their 
own  metier  by  loving  as  much  and  as  well  as  we  possibly 
can.  No  fear  of  that,  say  you  !  I  allow  it.  1'error  and 
Lady  are  on  each  side  of  me—  I  am  therefore  the  happy 
(would  I  could  say  the  golden)  medium.  Strange  is  it  that 
our  love  is  the  only  thing  in  the  world  which  has  no  medium 
and  no  extreme  either,  for  we  never  get  to  the  end  of  it,  and 
it  goes  on  increasing  like  the  discoveries  at  the  North  Pole, 
which  will  (Dr.  Ilerschell  supposes)  finally  open  into  a  New 
World. 

I  like  beginning  a  new  page  Avell,  and  therefore  take  the 
following  [^narhs  of  kisses],  all  of  the  best  order  and  qual- 
ity, and  not  numbered  because  they  represent  infinity. 

I  think  it  not  impossible  that  W""  Nap.  and  I  may  all 
lie  down  in  the  same  Kennel  ;  what  a  triple  Cerberus  we 
shall  be  !  Alas !  I  must  go  to-morrow  to  draw  upon  my 
capital ;  it  gives  me  the  most  painful  concern,  but  I  find 

c\'cr  nature  kind  or  quality  that  I  have  the  power  of  giving  bequeath- 
ing or  disposing  limiting  or  appointing  unto  my  E.\e(;utors  and  that 
my  saiil  Executors  shall  stand  possessed  of  all  and  every  such  estate 
and  slates  ;jud  the  rents  and  issues  etc.  upon  the  trusts  hereinafter 
named  and  to  pay  the  interest  dividends  and  proceeds  of  my  personal 
estate  etc.  to  my  mother  during  her  natural  life  then  to  Mary 
Letitia  Greene  etc.  of  Swords  near  Dublin,  etc.  etc." 


130  Lord  Lytto7is  Letters. 

my  debts  still  heavier  than  I  had  foreseen  !  Courage  !  one 
can  conquer  all  things  but  Truth  and  the  Toothache  !  Oh  ! 
oh  ! 

Adieu,  my  own  Darling  of  Delight,  write  me  a  long 
letter,  and  believe  me  ever  a  true,  true  Puppy  (but  that  I 
know  you  will),  in  whose  head  there  are  a  thousand  follies, 
but  in  whose  heart  there  is  only  one  thing — Poodle. 

E.  L.  B. 

I  hope  to  do  your  verses  to-night. 

LXVIII. 

To  Miss  Wheeler,  40,  Somerset  Street 
[Novel  nearly  finished. — To  include  some  verses  sent  to  her.] 

My  Own  Darling  Poodle, — I  only  write  a  few  lines  to 
tell  you  I  am  better  and  longing  for  a  letter  from  you. 
More  than  a  few  lines  I  cannot  write,  because  this  is  all  the 
paper  there  is  in  the  house,  and  in  sending  to  town  for 
some,  I  send  this  letter  also  to  you,  the  waters  I  hope  you 
will  certainly  have  by  Monday.  lam  so  grateful  to  you  for 
the  commission.  Do  get  quite  well.  My  own  love,  I  wish 
you  could  know  how  dejected  I  am  at  my  dis;ippointment 
in  not  seeing  you  to-day.  Literally  I  feel  as  a  blind  man 
who,  having  just  recovered  his  sight,  is  as  suddenly  deprived 
of  it  :  perhaps  a  more  dignified  and  applicable  simile  would 
be — like  a  puppy  dog  who  has  just  h<id  a  bone  snatched  out 
of  his  mouth. 

1  hope  I  shall  be  able  to  get  on  with  the  novel  to-day  ; 
so  as  to  finish  it  by  Monday  ;  but  W'«  who  is  certainly  the 
most  really  kind  relation  I  have,  is  coming  to  pass  the 
evening  here.  Pray,  Rose,  as  I  should  like  very  much  to 
link  you  to  anything  I  write  or  do,  may  I  put  some  of  the 
verses  I  have  addressed  to  you  into  my  novel  ?  if  so  perhaps 
you  could  send  mc,  for  I  do  not  remember  them,  those 


Lord  Lyttons  Letters.  131 

beginning  with  "  Ah  "  let  ns  love  while  yet  we  may.'*  1 
think  this  would  be  but  right,  as  I  have  drawn  the  lady  to 
whom  tlicy  arc  addressed  somewhat  like  you,  at  least  as  to 
person,  talking  of  that,  I  cannot  but  deeply  regret  for 
another  reason  my  present  confinement,  viz.,  the  delay  it 
has  occasioned  to  the  taking  of  your  picture.  I  hope,  how- 
ever, to  get  out  to-morrow.  W"^  has  told  mo  some  obser- 
vations of  Miss  G s,  which  seem  to  shew  a  very  clever 

and  rather  original  mind.  Adieu,  my  Rose  of  Eoses — my 
darling  adieu  !  E.  L.  B. 

LXIX. 

[Elizabeth. — Lady   Caroline's   note. — Proposed    Military    Career. - 
Cockburn,  dissimilarity  of  pursuits.] 

Well,  love,  we  have  now  six  long,  long  days  to  come, 
till  we  meet ;  et  pusis,  et  pnsis?  Ah  !  ten  million  kisses 
till  then,  and  how  many  million  after  .^  You  must  not 
give  away  too  many  kisses  to  your  "own  Elizabeth."  I 
allow  you — let  me  see — fifty  !  not  one  more,  mind,  or  you 
must  answer  to  mo  for  the  loan  with  so  exorbitant  ai^ 
interest  that  you  shall  not  have  a  single  one  left  to  give 
away  for  all  the  rest  of  your  life.  Miss  Richardson's  note 
is  like  her.  I  have  a  very — opinion  of  her.  Lady  Caroline's 
note  is  exquisite,  if  an  imitation  of  mother  as  well  as  writ- 
ing ;  but  00  does  not  please  mo  by  retailing  her  naughty 
words.  The  Leporello  business  is  nipped  i'  the  bud.  The 
Deputy  hath  been  seized  with  a  marvellous  and  exceeding 
fear,  and  rcfuseth  to  act ;  something  else  must  be  done,  or 
after  all  I  think  some  pretty  expressions  very  bitter  indeed, 
said  publickly  to  the  Object  will  answer  the  purpose. 
Enough  of  this  now. 

I  have  just  returned  from  the  War  Ofiice,  where  I  have 
been  worrying  about  *'iny  military  interests" — all  for  love 
and  glory,  you  know,  Ilelas,  that  the  "  maid  of  matchless 
charms"  should  not  have  a  lover  more  famed  for  deeds  of 


132  Lord  Lyttons  Letters. 

arms  than  au  nnattached  ensign  on  half  pay  !  Oo  were  not 
Jealous  ;  00  knows  ooself  too  well  to  be  jealous.  I  intend 
positively — and  I  give  you  fair  notice — to  be  inconstant 
directly  I  find  any  one  more  beautiful  than  00  but  as  I  shall 
be  very  old  before  then,  I  fear  no  one  would  have  mc,  and  I 
should  be  driven  back  to  00  again.  Do  you  knovr,  Rose, 
that  I  was  so  ill  and  feverish  last  night, 

"  I  slept — 
The  same  fair  image  on  my  slumber  kept," 

I  had  no  refuge.  ''Ah,  that  love,  that  love  !"  as  Listen 
says.  I  never,  never,  never  saw  you  so  beautiful  as  you 
■were  yesterday  when  /arranged  your  hair.  I  am  vastly  of 
opinion  that  I  shall  greatly  improve  you.  What  docs  00 
think  of  it  ?  A  rap — a  dun.  Ah  !  that  odious  system  of 
paying  for  what  one  wants.  It  is  really  singular,  but  God 
and  money  seem  to  struggle  which  has  the  greatest  power 
over  us,  for  we  can  no  more  exist  without  the  one  than  we 
can  without  the  other.  I  have  about  £30  to  last  for  the 
next  two  months,  but  I  ivill  j)ay  my  debts.  Oh,  tliis  novel, 
this  novel  ! — 

"  No  Scrivener  going  to  write  it, 
No  publisher  going  to  buy." 

Apropos  of  novels,  tell  me  about  Ottley  !  The  Gas- 
coignes  have  called  on  00  to-day — n'est  ce  pas  9  Does  00 
know  enough  of  Latin  to  read  Cicero  ?  there  are  some  svch 
thoughts  in  his  Philosophical  Works.  I  was  looking  at 
them  to-day.  Whenever  I  meet  with  anything  beautiful,  I 
always  long  for  my  own  Eosc  !  Cold,  cold,  cold  is  the  day. 
Such  are  the  proper  days  for  kissing,  love.  Who  was  00  in 
the  habit  of  kissing  first  ?  Oo  has  learnt  the  art  very  per- 
fectly.    Cockburn  has  been  with  me  this  morning — we  went 


Lord  Lyttons   Letters.  133 

to  .y®  office  together.  Alas,  how  friendship  depends  on  simi- 
larity of  pursuits  rather  than  temper  !  We  feel  we  have  not 
one  subject  in  common.  We  used  to  have  so  many,  llow 
fond  I  am  of  utter,  utter  loneliness ;  it  is  the  thing  most 
dear  to  me  after  00.  Why,  by-the  bye,  are  there  so  few 
people  who  can  bear  solitude  ?  I  mean  solitude  without 
occupation,  no  books,  music,  writing,  nothing  but  thought. 
How  wrong  Montaigne  was  when  he  said  we  don't 
think  except  when  we  write  or  read.  There  is  not  a 
moment  of  the  day — walking,  riding,  drinking,  eating,  even 
sleeping — in  Avhich  I  am  not  thinking.  This  might  be 
singular  formerly  ;  it  is  no  Avonder  now,  love,  is  it  ?  Well, 
I  must  go  to  my  mother  ;  I've  not  seen  her  for  three  days, 
and  my  heart  smites  me.  Good-bye,  my  love,  my  life,  my 
adored  and  darling  Rose. 

All  yours, 

E.  L.  B. 

LXX. 

[Hypochondriacal. — Peas  and  fires  at  the  Athenaeum.] 

My  Rose  Of  Roses, — I  am  so  angry  with  myself  for  my 
ignorance  of  Sabbatical  customs  in  England.  I  always 
(what  a  horrid  pen  !)  imagined  that  the  Twopenny  Post 
performed  its  functions  the  same  to-day  as  to-morrow,  and 
have  only  just  been  informed  of  my  error.  In  consequence 
of  this  you  will  have  a  letter  to-morrow  which  ought  in  my 
opinion  to  have  been  delivered  two  hours  ago,  and  I  am 
therefore  writing  this  with  cold  hands  by  a  bad  fire,  instead 
of  eating  my  dinner  like  a  sensible  man  and  good  Christian. 
I  enclosed  in  the  aforesaid  unfortunate  epistle  the  Reviewer's 
note.  I  forget  whether  I  complimented  you  upon  the 
encomium  on  yourself.  The  Reviewer  seems  a  sensible 
man,  and  a  wise ;  and  h;.s  discerned  that  the  inspirations 
of  the  Sybil  were  written  on  ]0.=5e-leave6. 


134  Lord  Lyttons  Letters. 

Poor  Miss  Spence !  Have  you  seen  3'onr  friend 
"  Elizabeth ""  to-day,  and  have  you  been  too  prodigal  ? 
Pray  keep  an  exact  account  of  all  you  have  spent  ;  nothing 
is  like  a  proper  Economy,  and  you  can't  reasonably  suppose 
that  I  am  to  starve  myself  upon  hopes  while  you  are  in  act 
and  deed  playing  the  spendthrift  with  our  only  wealth — 
kisses.  Never  mind  the  scantiness  of  the  £30,  dearest ; 
money  makes  itself  wings  whatever  be  the  amount,  but  love 
only  has  wings  when  he  is  a  little  boy  ;  when  he  grows  to 
a  great  size  he  leaves  them  off  with  his  frills  and  short 
jackets,  and  then  he  becomes,  like  most  other  young  men, 
so  indolent  and  inactive  that  one  can't  get  him  away  if  one 
would  : 

This  is  one  of  my  gloomy  days  ;  no  wonder,  since  you 
are  not  here.  Ah,  my  dearest  Rose,  how  true  it  is  that 
*■'  talk  is  but  a  tinkling  cymbal,  and  company  but  a  gallery 
of  pictures,  where  there  is  no  love  !"  How  we  have 
exhausted  pleasure  in  the  prodigality  of  moments,  and  how 
insipid  after  an  interview  with  you  seems  all  the  nothings 
of  the  world  to  which  it  is  made  a  penance  to  return.  My 
last  letter  will  answer  your  questions  \  let  this  only  reply  to 
your  parentheses.     Let  me  see  : 

E.  L.  B.  creditor  to  R.  W.     700,000 

800,000 

40 

900,000 

7,000 

6 

3 


Sum  total    24,007,049 


There  they  are,  24,007,049  \marT<s  of  kisses].     You  see 
I  follow  your  advice,   and  make  haste  to  discharge  all  my 


Lord  Lyttons  Letters.  135 

debts.  Oh,  Rose,  my  own,  own  darling,  how  I  do  love 
you  !  Every  lino  I  receive  from  you,  every  moment  I  am 
with  you  increases  my  passion,  because  it  shews  me  how 
much  you  deserve  it.  How  very  seldom  it  is  that  love  can 
be  lasting  ! — so  you  say,  so  all  people  say.  Why  ?  Because 
it  is  so  very  seldom  that  we  love  both  the  mind  and  person  ; 
if  we  do  not  love  the  latter,  the  sentiment  is  too  weak  and 
cold  to'satisfy  us  long  ;  if  we  do  not  love  the  former,  the 
illusion  is  merely  of  the  senses,  and  fades  in  proportion  to 
its  gratification  ;  but  I,  Rose,  love  you  so  wholly  and 
entirely  that  no  one  else  seems  to  me  either  clever  or  beauti- 
ful. I,  who  have  never  been  jealous  of  the  merit  of  other 
people  for  myself,  become  jealous  of  it  for  you  ;  and  tho'  I 
suffer  all  tiun  to  be  as  clever  and  charming  as  possible,  I  do 
not  grant  to  a  ivoman  any  single  good  quality  (zoo  has 
stolen  and  monopolized  them  all,  and  so  beggared  the 
universe). 

I  am  glad,  dearest,  that  you  allow  you  have  a  natural 
genius  for  kissing,  but  all  talents  run  to  ruin  if  suffered 
to  lie  fallow,  you  must  be  sure  to  keep  up  God's  gifts  by 
constant  application  and  practice — always,  however,  re- 
membering that  to  be  perfect  one  must  only  consult  one 
model,  and  that  I,  as  your  private  tutor,  most  absolutely 
and  earnestly  protest  against  your  taking  lessons  from  any 
other  instructor  whatever.  I  don't  know  why  it  is  that  I 
feel  so  hypochondriacal  to-night,  but — but  there — let  mo 
kiss  it  away  \ji)iarks  of  kisses]. 

I  saw  a  very  early  flame  of  mine  to-day.  Let  me  see  ! 
it  is  five  years  since  I  met  her.  IIow  time  has  altered  her, 
not  in  person  but  mind.  IIow  vivacity  has  grown  into 
assurance.  IIow  all  the  dawn  of  the  mind,  as  somebody 
prettily  enough  calls  innocence,  has  been  rubbed  and  fretted 
away.  There  is  nothing  so  revolting  to  me  as  coarseness  ; 
and  Englishwomen  who  have  been,  like  her,  two  or  three 
years  on  the  Continent,  do  get  so  coarse  !  what  enrages  mo 


136  Lord  Lyttons   Letters. 

the  most  is  that  they  think  it  foreign  ease  and  grace ;  as  if 
the  great  fauK  in  very  high  society  abroad  (tho'  only  society 
there  is  not  disgraceful  in  despotic  countries)  were  not  too 
great  a  stiffness  and  affectation  of  refinement,  Italy  of 
course  excepted.  Well,  Rose,  my  own  darling,  where  have 
been  to-day  ?  Let  me  know.  I  hope  yon  have  followed 
my  injunctions — wrapped  yourself  up  well,  subjected  your- 
self to  no  changes,  avoid  all  draughts  as  carefully  iis  I  do 
duns;  and,  in  short,  been  in  every  respect  careful  to  pre- 
serve alliterations,  and  to  be  as  prudent  as  pretty.  I  am 
going'to  sit  np  to-night.  I  have  letters  from  abroad  to 
answer  ;  nothing  too,  for  the  good  of  the  mind  like  weary- 
ing the  body. 

I  write  this  at  the  Athenasum,  where  I  am  going  to 
dine,  I  wish  by-the-bye,  they  would  give  better  peas  &  fires. 
I  shall  in  all  probability  leave  this  myself,  and  I  shall  then 
return  home  for  the  rest  of  the  night.  So  you  see,  you 
have  a  detailed  account  of  all  my  plans  and  projects  for  the 
next  12  hours,  which  are  becoming  very  quiet  and  regular, 
in  order  to  practice  for  Matrimony.  1  have  no  esprit  de 
Rose  here  ;  all  looks  pragmatic  and  purple  ;  except  two 
very  bad  legs,  which  have  been  walking  up  and  down  to  my 
great  discomfort  in  a  pair  of  light  grey  pantaloons.  Adieu, 
dearest  Eose,  may  your  dreams  be  as  happy  as  our  love  shall 
make  the  future  ;  and  yet  I  will  not  say  adieu  while  this 
envelope  remains  unfilled.  It  is  something,  in  the  midst  of 
those  series  of  dull  occupations  which  fritter  away  life,  to 
dwell,  though  for  a  moment  only,  on  the  communications 
of  the  soul.  What  is  it  that  now  addresses  you  ?  Nothing 
personal,  tangible,  real, — nothing  but  the  thoughts  which 
in  themselves  are  without  form  or  substance,  and  are  only 
made  visible  by  this  medium  which  receives  and  embodies 
them.  But  these  thoughts,  my  own,  own  love,  are  like  the 
Sylphs  of  Belinda — they  never  leave  you  for  a  moment,  and 
are  not  the  less  existent  because  thev  are  unseen.     You  will 


Lord  Lyttons  Letters.  137 

recieve  my  other  letter  to-morrow  morning.  What  a  long 
one  you  will  owe  me  in  return.  Pray  observe  how  close 
the  lines  are  in  both  of  them  ;  and  now,  at  last,  my  life,  my 
love,  my  own,  own  Rose,  I  must  tear  myself  from  you. 
Ever,  ever,  and  entii-ely  yours, 

E.  L.  B. 

LXXI. 

To  Miss  Wheelek,  40,  Somerset  Street. 

[Murray. — Colburn.] 

mth  Novemher,  1826. 
Pray,  am  I  going  to  have  an  answer  to  my  too  long 
letters  or  not  ?  I  shall,  and  indeed  can,  only  write  one 
letter  now,  for  I  am  going  all  over  the  Town,  to  serve  a  man 
who  was  once  kind  to  me  ;  but  that  one  line  shall  tell  you 
goodish  news.  I  have  been  to  Murray,  who  was  marvellously 
complimentary,  and  says  he  will  publish  my  poem  to-mor- 
row, if  I  wish  it ;  but  advises  two  things  ;  first,  to  wait  till 
the  end  of  January;  secondly,  to  spend  that  time  in  revis- 
ing and  lengthening  it.  He  spoke  about  Colburn,  and  I 
quite  drew  iron  smiles  from  his  cheeks,  when  I  told  him  I 
would  add  a  line  or  two  upon  that  Oracle  of  Burlington  St. 
Well,  my  darling,  pray  write,  for  my  soul  hungers  and 
thirsts  after  writeousness — ten  million  [^narhs  of  Msscs] 
and  15  \hit6s\. 

E.  L.  B. 
LXXII. 

^Death  of  Duke  of  York. — Fear  of  arrest. — "Memoirs  of  a  Gentle- 
man."] 

My  Darling,  Darling  Poodle, — 

Oo — I  beg  pardon — zoo  letter  gave  me  the  greatest 
delight, — to-morrow  we  arc  to  meet !  After  we  have  t-aid 
that,  does  not  the  whole  purpose  of  language,  while  absent, 
seem  answered  ?    What  have  our  thoughts  for  occu])ation 


138  Lord  Lyttofis  Letters. 

bat  the  prospect  of  reunion,  or  what  should  words  utter  but 
the  day  on  which  it  is  to  be  ?  To-morrow  we  are  to  meet  ! 
I  could  repeat  that  sentence  for  ever.  Take  away  from  me 
all  other  utterance — I  should  scarcely  feel  the  loss  while 
that  one  phrase  was  left  to  me  !  From  one  thought,  which 
is  you,  my  mind  is  still  more  condensed  into  one  hope,  and 
that  is  to  see  you.  Ah  !  those  moments  so  rich  in  the  ful- 
ness of  existence,  do  we  feel,  do  we  prize  them  enough, 
were  they  lost  ?  Do  we  linger  sufficiently  over  each,  and 
make  the  recollection  of  the  instant  that  has  glided  by  only 
swell  still  more  the  rapture  of  that  which  we  are  enjoying  ? 
There  is  a  Vague,  overflowing,  inexpressible  happiness  in 
being  but  in  the  same  room  with  y^  one  we  love — even  if 
we  do  not  speak,  move,  or  even  look  upon  that  face  which 
is  le  vari  livre  de  la  nature  to  us,  a  sort  of  inward,  possess- 
ing, pervading  joy  like  that  which  I  could  fancy  flowers 
have  in  the  presence  of  the  sun.  But  when  to  this  more 
simple  transport  be  added  all  that  which  love  can  give  or 
receive — lip,  breath,  bosom,  all,  all  blent  and  united  into 
cue  ivliole,  made  up  of  a  thousand  emotions,  one  of  which 
■were  a  rapture — what  wonder  that  the  life  we  awaken  to 
seems  so  wearisome  and  cold,  or  that  from  the  Creation  of 
the  AVorld  the  best  part  of  JSTature  has  been  its  yearning  and 
desire  to  love  ?  "  To-morrow  I  am  to  meet  you  !''  Let  me 
say  and  dream  once  more  over  that  thought,  and  then,  then 
I  will  turn  from  the  future  to  the  present ;  from  the  you 
of  to-morrow  to  the  you  of  to-day. 

How  are  you — how  is  your  head,  your  arm  ?  are  you 
perfectly  well  ?  Me  is  still  better — quite  recovered  indeed. 
Perhaps  me  shall  hear  from  Colburn  to-night.  Me  10 ill  get 
some  black  sealingwax.  Me  is  very  much  disgusted  with 
'*  The  poor  Duke  of  York,"  and  me  above  all  hates  the 
cant  of  tlie  "  de  mortuis  nil  nisi  bonum."  Public  Charac- 
ters never  die  ;  and  nothing  is  so  mischievous  to  mankind 
as  to  make  the  Grave  such  a  "  beautifier  of  the  dead.' 


Lord  Lytto7is   Letters.  139 

The  Duke  of  York  was  a  weak,  arbitrary,  tyrannical  bigot, 
and  the  mumming  aduhition  of  a  London  Mob  cannot  alter 
that  character  which  a  long  unprofitable,  degraded  life  was 
at  the  trouble  of  confirming.  Well,  love,  me  is  going  to 
send  down  to  the  bank,  for  me  is  in  most  immient  danger 
of  arrest.  Me  wants  to  show  00  another  reason  for  writing 
like  a  dragon  this  year  above  all  others.  Me  is  therefore 
going  on  wirh  the  "Memoirs  of  a  Gentleman,"  which  me 
is  writing  solely  for  other  people,  not  for  myself.  Directly 
the  first  volume  is  done  me  will  get  some  one  to  take  it  to 
another  bookseller,  for  me  would  not  like  to  appear  in  it 
myself,  for  me  Aviil  write  2  or  3  volumes  solely  in  propor- 
tion to  the  price. 

And  now,  my  own  Poodle,  good-bye  !  Me  will  send  in 
the  evening  for  00  letter,  and  till  then  me  must  do  what 
me  can.  Adieu  !  Ever  your  most — Ah  I  those  silly  insuf- 
ficient words  !  Mo  may  kiss  00  again  now,  and  me  will, 
Zoo  beautiful  Poodle  ! 

E.  L.  B. 
LXXIII. 

[Her  audacity  about  Novel.] 

My  Dearest  Love, — I  am  only  this  instant  returned 
from  the  country,  and  have  only  5  minutes  (literall}^)  to 
write  to  you  and  to  dress  for  dinner.  A  rap  at  the  door  I 
Can  it  be  the  postman's  ?  Can  it  be  fraught  with  a  letter 
from  you  ?  \^Mar'ks  of  kisses.']  So  much  for  the  letter 
which  is  from  you.  But  I  have  scarcely  time  now  to  say  a 
word. 

God  bless  you,  my  dearest,  dearest  Rose.  Pray  forgive 
this  short  letter. 

Ever  most — yours, 
E.  L.  B. 

/angry  with  you!  !  !  Your  audacity  about  the  novel 
is  quite  absurd — you  can  never  get  that  sum — never! 
Adieu. 


140  Lord  Lyttoiis  Letters. 


LXXIV. 

To  Miss  Wheelek,  40,  Somerset  Street. 

[At  Mr.  Knight's. — Lady  Caroline  and  Russel  there. — Abernethy.] 

My  Dearest  liosina, — I  have  returned  to  Town,  and 
am  much  better  for  my  short  excursion.  I  saw  Lady 
Caroline  at  Mr.  Johnes  Knights'.  Conceive  her  surprise 
and  mine  too  at  finding  Russel  there  !  She  behaved  well 
upon  the  whole ;  and  so,  by-the-bye,  did  he.  The  Dr. 
was  worn  and  solemn  as  usual,  looking  marvellously  like  a 
shilling  of  George  the  first,  half  rubbed  away,  Susan  was 
there  also,  listening  to  everything  and  observed  by  nobody. 
What  an  excellent  agent  to  a  French  Minister  or  a  jealous 
husband  !  The  party  was  a  very  small  one,  and  everybody 
found  it  exceedingly  pleasant  except  myself  ;  but  I  was 
as  absent  as  you  were,  and  Mr.  Knight,  who,  I  suppose, 
had  been  told  I  was  a  promising  young  man,  for  he  talked 
to  me  most  eruditely  (by-the-bye,  what  very  delightful 
people  both  he  and  Mrs.  Knight  are).  Must  have  found  me 
like  a  bad  country  note,  which  the  more  it  promises  the 
more  certain  it  is  of  giving  nothing. 

At  last  this  morning,  I  had  your  letter.  Thank  you 
for  it,  my  dearest  love.  I'm  very  sorry  indeed  that  I  made 
that  unlucky  sentence  ;  I  only  did  so  to  prove  my  love  to 
you  ;  and  any  proof  of  that  must  give  jou  pleasure  not  pain, 
dearest.  Eh  ?  Pray  when,  in  the  first  place,  shall  I  meet 
you  at  Miss  Spence's  to  talk  over  Lady  C,  etc.?  When 
shall  I  meet  you  at  Miss  Benger's  and  when  shall  I  meet 
you  SpenceZess  and  Bengerless  ?  Let  me  know  all.  Dearest ! 
what  a  dear  man  Abernethy  is  to  tell  you  to  have  your  oton 
way,  because  then  we  should  travel  together  !  As  to  the 
blue  pill  and  scanty  commons,  I  am  rather  myself  an 
advocate  for  the  latter  but  only  "  rather,"  for  it  is  very 


Lord  Lyttons  Letters.  141 

doubtful.  Of  the  former  I  can  give  no  opinion,  and  so  (to 
adopt  your  suggestion)  we  may  as  well  swallow  Miss  Spence 
hy  way  of  experiment. 

Pray,  my  adored  girl,  never  talk  of  any  disavantago 
occasioned  to  me  by  my  love  for  you.  You  know  our  map 
of  China;  with  such  an  Empire  we  may  easily  spare  a 
corner.  I  am  writing  this,  tho'  two  men  are  here  making 
a  confounded  noise  because  I  would  do  nothing  till  I  had 
sent  you  my  news  and  a  kiss.  Pray  return  the  compliment 
in  Icind.  Adieu,  my  dearest  love.  Do  say  where  I  can 
see  you.  Yours  for  ever. 

E.  L.  B. 

Pray,  don't  be  satirical  to  or  of  any  one  but  me.  I  do 
seriously  implore  this  one  favor, — will  you  forgive  me  for 
it,  love,  and  don't  retaliate  upon  the  bad  practice  of  the 
Preacher.     Once  more,  good  bye.     Oh,  how  I  love  you  ! 

LXXV. 

To  Mrss  KosE  Wheeler,  40,  Somerset  Street,  Portman 

Square. 

[Gambling. — Murray. — Ottley. — Cockburu.] 

\Marlcs  of  kisses]  for  your  kind  letter,  my  own  darling. 
It  was  not  the  Borough  which  annoyed  me  last  night.  I 
never  suffer  myself  to  be  dispirited  by  obstacles.  Firstly, 
because,  if  not  impossible  to  remove,  I  like  the  effort  of 
trying  to  do  so  ;  and,  secondly,  because  if  they  ai'e,  one 
must  strike  out  a  now  path  altogether,  and  one  has  no 
time,  therefore,  to  grumble  over  the  rough  stones  of  the 
old  one!  The  difficulty  is  not  insurmountable,  but  very 
great  and  quite  unforeseen — at  all  events  it  will  be  pro- 
ductive of  trouble  and  delay.  I  still  however,  think  there 
is  much  to  hope  for.  I  do  not  grumble,  dearest,  tho'  I 
have  done  so  to  a  terrible  excess — some  of  the  wildest,  the 


142  Lord  Lytto7is  Letters. 

"worst,  and  the  happiest  feelings  of  my  life  have  been  passed 
in  watching,  not  the  fortune  of  the  dye  for  myself  but  for 
another.  Thereby  hangs  a  tail  of  a  long  and  deep  and 
bitter  vengeance.  But  more  than  a  year  before  that  I  had 
left  off  gambling  myself.  Ilowth  by-the-bye,  who  is 
engaged  with  O'Neil  and  Claniickarde  in  that  very  black 
business,  was  my  contemporary  at  Cambridge,  and  was 
known  there  as  a  great  lover  of  five-guinea  Loo.  I 
remember  myself  playing  28  hours  uninterruptedly,  where, 
I  think,  he  was  one  of  the  party,  but  don't  be  alarmed 
love  ;     I  repeat  that  those  praiseworthy  pursuits  are  over. 

Mind  we  get  near  one  another  at  the  play — sorry  am  I 
to  say  the  box  hulds  five  in  front.  I  think  Miss  Benger — 
no  by-the-bye,  she  knows  my  mother,  and  might  speak  of 
it.  Do  as  you  like  ;  only  see  that  I  touch  you.  Do  you 
smell,  my  flower  of  flowers,  some  of  your  own  perfume  ? 
[w«r^■s  of  lci8ses\.  I  have  put  a  dash  between  each  for 
you. 

I  shall  call  upon  Mr.  Murray  to-day.  I  feel  symtoms  of 
great  indignation  against  that  most  timorous  of  all  book- 
sellers. I  want  particularly  to  finish  my  novel  before  I  go 
into  the  House,  for  I  shall  then  fag  night  and  day  at  Parlia- 
mentary nistory  and  Political  Economy.  I  have  already 
read  a  good  deal  on  both,  but  have  not  reflected  much  on 
them.  I  want,  especially  in  the  latter,  not  only  to  know 
everything  that  has  been  said  by  others,  but  to  add  some- 
thing to  the  system  myself. 

And  did  you  not  really  know  that  Ina  was  as  much  your 
name  as  Eose  ?  By-the-bye,  you  go  to  Ottley's  to-day.  Do 
tell  me  all  your  success.  I  am  not  very  sanguine,  since  I 
fear  the  remainder  is  not  indeed  in  keeinng.  I  wonder  if 
]\Iiss  Spence  HERSELF  ever  was  !  Would  that  Diana  of 
Quebec  be  indignant  at  my  irreverent  pun  ? 

Pray,  have  you  called  on  the  Gascoignes  yet  ?    I  saw 


Lord  Lyttons  Letters.  143 

Emily  for  the  first  time  yesterday,  but  to  far  off  to  judge  of 
her.     She  seems  tall  and  not  thiu  which  is  something. 

Pray  don't  talk  about  my  indisposition,  while  you  tell 
me  so  little  of  your  own.  Do  keep  yourself  as  free  from 
sudden  changes  of  air,  etc.,  as  possible,  and  mind  the  win- 
dows and  doors  at  that  Mr.  Ottley's  to-day.  I  dreamt  of 
you  last  night — a  very  turbulent  and  terrible  vision — foes 
and  fighting.  I  was  by  the  downfall  of  my  candlestick, 
which  I  suppose  I  entrained  in  my  own  ruin,  for  I  myself 
yfdiS.  "  ohjectus  iti  herb  is, '' und  on  the  ground.  Pray  visit 
me  more  gently  to-night.  A  thousand  thousand  kisses 
before  I  begin  the  next  page.  I  like  your  having  chosen 
the  same  criterion  of  affection  which  I  should,  viz.,  in 
correspondence.  I  used  to  hate  writing,  also,  with  a  most 
profound  cordiality,  but  00  makes  me  love  everything, 
because  everything  is  full  of  00.  I  have  not  asked  Cock- 
burn,  since  you  did  not  like  it.  A  knock  at  the  door  ! 
Oh  Rose,  eternal  intruders  !  Thank  Heaven,  however,  that 
it  is  the  end,  not  the  beginning  of  my  letter.  Farewell, 
my  darling,  my  life — my  everything  that  love,  admiration, 
passion  can  not  express,  except  by  the  one  word  which  com- 
prehends everything  most  perfect — Rose.     Adieu  ! 

E.  L.  B. 
LXXVI. 

To  Miss  Wheelee. 

[Saunders  and  Ottley.— Degradation  of   making  money  from  pub- 
lishers.— "  Our  letter  would  never  do  for  a  Court  of  Justice."] 

Allow  me  to  offer  my  most  sincere  congratulations  and 
my  most  respectful  compliments  to  so  successful  a  Negotia- 
tor. Really,  I  feel  so  much  penetrated  with  respectful  and 
deferential  sentiments,  that  I  fear  it  will  be  a  long  time 
before  I  shall  dare  to  love  you  again.  Poor  Mess''s  Saun- 
ders and  Ottley  had  indeed  no  chance  !  I  already  look 
thro'  the  vistas  of  time  and  perceive  future  volumes  and 


144  Lord  Lyttoits  Letters. 

visits  impoTerishing  the  counters  of  Conduit  St.  !  I  already 
behold  Mess"  Saunders  and  Ottley  in  the  list  of  Bank- 
rupts, dying  of  a  broken  heart,  and  upbraiding  with  their 
last  breath  the  Spence  who  destroyed,  and  the  Syren  who 
seduced  them  !  Gravely  and  soberly  I  am  not  surprised  at 
your  triumph  over  those  jaoor  men,  firstly,  because  it  was 
your  writing  which  they  have  seen  as  yet,  and  secondly, 
because  it  was  your  face  and  lips  which  have  wooed  them 
to  their  ruin.  But  I  shall  be  surprised  if,  after  they  have 
seen  the  rest  of  the  MS.,  they  continue  their  liberal 
intentions.  However,  wonders  never  cease,  and  that  is  the 
only  reason  which  makes  me  suppose  we  shall  forget  to 
love  one  another  one  of  these  days.  But,  my  dearest  love, 
there  is  one  thing  which  hurt  me  in  your  letter — it  was 
where  you  speak  of  keeping  £50  for  yourself,  firstly  because 
we  have  already  I  hope  everything  in  common,  I  cannot 
bear  that  you  should  earn  it  by  any  means,  and  secondly, 
because  I  can  bear  far  less  the  idea  that  you  should  earn  it 
by  these  means.  I  cannot  bear  that  one  who  may  be  mine 
should  wring  a  single  shilling  from  the  Hard  Bonds  of 
Publishers,  and  I  look  upon  it  as  a  great  and  grievous 
degradation  that  even  I  (in  whom,  as  a  man,  it  is  more 
pardonable)  should  be  forced  to  stoop  to  such  an  expedient. 
These  are  old-fashioned  notions  ;  but  I  am  terribly  aristo- 
cratic in  all  punctilios  of  delicacy,  and  I  therefore  mention 
this  even  with  the  certainty  that  you  will  laugh  at  me. 

I  have  had  a  very  curious  letter,  of  which  we  will  talk 
when  we  meet.  And  so.  Miss  Rose,  you  had  rather  say 
"no"  to  going  to  the  Play.  Very  well!  Just  as  you 
please.  But  pray  why  had  you  rather  say  that  horrid  little 
monoyllabic  abortion  ?  There  is  a  dog  now  in  the  room 
exactly  like  Bijou,  and  that  recollection  drives  me 
instantly  into  a  Do  you  remember,  dearest,  dearest  Rose  ? 
And  why  did  not  I  deserve  a  single  kiss  ?  Zoo's  a  naughty 
ittle  coquette,  and  shall  be  well  beaten  the  next  time  we 


Lord  Lyttons  Letters.  145 

meet !  Our  letters,  Rose,  Avould  never  do  for  a  Court  of 
Justice.  Yours  are  so  pretty  that  they  would  seem  arti- 
ficial, and  mine  so  silly  that  I  should  be  considered  ^'a 
natural."  I  wish  you  were  here,  Eose  !  There's  a  wise 
ejaculation  !  But  I  am  not  very  happy  to-day,  and  at 
those  times  I  do  long  for  you  so.  Farewell  (I  use  your 
word)  and  be  all  which  I  wish  you  ! 

E.  L.  B.* 
LXXVII. 

["  Falkland  "  not  likely  to  be  received  by  Colburn.] 

My  Darling  Poodle, — I  fear  I  shall  not  be  able  to  come 
to-night  to  Miss  Spence's.  I  have  some  people  here.  If, 
however,  I  can,  I  need  not  add  that  I  will.  I  was  too  dis- 
appointed last  night — it  is  easier  to  bear  unhappiness  than 
to  be  very  near  happiness  and  yet  miss  it.  My  head  also 
aches  dreadfully  ;  but  I  have  another  reason  to  get  on 
with  my  new  book — I  understand  from  my  agent,  as  well 
as  Henry,  that  "  Falkland  "  is  not  likely  to  be  received  by 
Colburn,  and  Murray  always  makes  such  delays.  More- 
over, a  man  to  whom  some  weeks  ago  I  communicated  my 
plan  in  the  "  Memoir  of  a  Gentleman  "  has  adapted  it,  and 
is  now  writing  a  work  from  my  idea.  I  must  therefore 
forestall  him.  I  hope  by  Tuesday  to  have  finished  the  first 
volume,  the'  for  the  next  2  or  3  days  I  fear  I  shall  not  be 
able  to  write  a  word,  I  have  so  many  engagements.     I  saw 

*  Lady  Lytton  writes  on  the  outer  sheet  of  paper — "  Tliis  was 
d,  propos  of  '  The  Court  Scenes  '  I  wrote  for  poor  Miss  Spcnce  in  her 
trashy  book  of  'Dame  Rebecca  Berry,'  which  Saunders  said  were 
equal  to  any  of  Scott's  and  I,  being  only  20,  was  of  course  very 
proud.  And  now  that  my  bread  depends  upon  it,  he  has  the  same 
noble  (!  !)  scruples  about  my  receiving  money  from  Publishers,  and 
so  does  all  lie  can  to  prevent  my  getting  a  shilling  1  it  was  only  no 
degradation  when  I  slaved  for  him." — Re-read  August  20th,  1851!  I  1  1 
[This  was  the  year  (1851)  in  which  he  offered  to  add  £100  a  year  to 
her  income  if  she  would  give  these  letters  up  to  him.— L.  D.] 


146  Lord  Lyttoiis  Letters. 

Chalou  yestercLiy  ;  bo  paints  only  tolerably,  and  liis  like- 
nesses arc  very  untrue  and  anytbing  but  tlatteiing.  Tbe 
Duchess  of  Hamilton  is  absolutely  plain  in  his  miniature. 

I  shall  certainly  come  if  I  can,  for  I  want  to  speak  to 
you  about — no  matter  what  at  present.  God  bless  00,  my 
own  darling,  adieu  ! 

E.  L.  B. 
LXXVII. 

To  Miss  Wheelee. 

["  Falkland." — Mortimer.] 

My  Poor  Dear  Angel  Poodle, — I  am  so  sorry  for  your 
poor  chest  !  Ah  !  how  near  to  my  Heaven  of  Heavens, 
darling  !)  I  hope  you  do  indeed  Avear  flannel,  and  that 
you  do  unaffectedly  take  care  of  your  health,  as  much,  my 
own  angel,  as  you  sball  bereafter  of  mine.  If  I  were  to 
give  you  a  treasure,  dearest,  to  keep  for  me,  would  you 
not  watch  over  it  like  a  miser  ?  If  I  were  to  place  my 
happiness  in  your  hands,  would  you  not  be  anxious  to  pre- 
serve it  ?  And  are  you  not,  my  own  darling,  botb  my 
treasure  and  my  happiness  ?  Is  iiot  my  very  life  inter- 
woven with  yours,  and  will  you  not  be  careful  of  my  treas- 
ure, my  ha])piness  and  my  life  ?  If,  my  dearest  Love, 
there  are  expressions  of  mine  which  offend  you  (and  I 
think  there  very  often  arc) — if  at  times  you  think  my 
wishes  tediously  expressed  and  my  advice  impertinently 
urged,  do  me  at  least  tbe  justice  to  believe  that  it  is  only 
my  interest,  my  anxiety,  my  love  for  you  which  in  reality 
offend.  I  often  imagine  tliat  I  should  i)lease  you  more  if 
I  loved  you  less — I  should  appear  less  captious  and  le  more 
complaisant,  but  surely,  my  own  Love,  you  will  pardon 
the  effect  in  the  cause. 

And  now,  since  Puppy  has  so  often  ventured  to  find 
fault,  let  him  also  have  the  happiness  of  telling  00  how 
delighted  and  proud  he  wag  with  00  last  night  for  refusing 


Lord  Lyttons  Letters.  147 

so  many  opportunities  of  indulging  00  favorite  propensity. 
Zoo  behaved  too  prettily,  and  nie  loved  00  twenty  times  as 
much  for  it,  than  if  00  had  said  the  most  brilliant  witticism. 
Mo  is  so  fond  of  00  for  it.  Zoo  darling,  20,000  kisses  me 
will  repay  00  to-morrow. 

Me  called  about  "■  Falkland "  to-day.  Mr.  Ollicr's 
definite  answer  has  not  been  received,  but  he  says  he  h:is 
very  little  doubt  indeed  but  Mr.  Colburn  will  take  it.  He 
spoke  of  it  as  a  literary  composition  (if  I  may  judge  by  the 
report)  in  a  most  exaggerated  manner.  En  attendant,  Mr. 
Ebers  has  oflEered  an  opera  box  for  it,  value  £250  ;  but  I 
think  if  Colburn  ultimately  refuses,  it  might  be  better  to 
wait  till  "  Mortimer"  is  finished.  The  first  volume  of  that 
inestimable  production  will  be  completed,  I  hope,  by 
Wednesday  ;  but  zoo  knows  that  me  shall  not  work  much 
to-morrow  at  it. 

I  shall  take  it  immediately  to  Saunders,  and,  if  he  will 
enter  upon  terms,  make  an  agreement  to  produce  the  other 
tu'O  volumes  in  a  month. 

I  have  something  amusing  to  tell  you  about  Napoleon. 
Many  thanks,  darling,  for  00  explanation  about  the  Mou- 
choir  ;  all  I  can  say  is  that  the  present  tense  was  in  favour 
of  its  uncleanness — I  readily  believe  that  00  had  very  little 
to  do  with  its  malproprete.  Me  is  much  obliged  to  00  fur 
saying  me  looked  clean  and  well — as  for  the  latter,  me  is 
very,  very  far  from  deserving  the  epithet,  me  has  lost  near- 
ly a  stone  weight  in  5  weeks,  for  me  is  eat  away  by  a  slow 
gnawing  fever,  Cent  cgal !  me  can  bear  all  things  but  the 
fear  of  losing  Poodle.  Oh,  how  beautiful  you  looked  last 
night  !  I  never  saw  you  so  dazzlingly  lovely.  There  were 
moments  when  Miss  Spence's  i)resence  itself  could  scarcely 
prevent — what,  darling  ? — Ah  !  me  will  tell  00  to-morrow. 

Rose,  let  me  begin  this  sheet  with  your  beautiful  name  ! 
Piose,  my  .•idoix-d  ainl  darling  girl,  were  not  those  hai)py 
r.;cmen  h  v.iu  n  .Mi.s.-  Spcnce  left  us  to  ourselves  ?     Ah  !  if 


1^8  Lord  Lyttons  Letter's. 

we  live  to  be  old,  shall  we  not  then  recall  them  as  some  of 
the  happiest  we  ever  knew  ?  As  for  me,  if  I  were  dying,  I 
think  their  recollection  could  restore  me.  I  do  not  think, 
my  beauty,  that  I  could  die  while  I  love  you,  for  that  love 
is  in  itself  a  life,  a  support,  an  energy,  a  fire.  To-morrow, 
Rose  !  Ah  !  that  sweet,  sweet  name,  how  me  shall  count 
the  hours  till  me  sees  oo  !  Ah  !  those  moments  are  so  soon 
over  !  Tell  me,  my  own  angel,  why  you  were  unhappy  and 
dejected  yesterday  morning.  \The  few  lines  of  conclusion 
torn  off  this  letter.] 

LXXIX. 

To  Miss  Wheelee,  40,  Somerset  Street. 

[His  masculine  dignity  offended  at  the  manner  in  which  she  receivefl 
his  counsels.] 

Thank  you,  my  dearest  Rose,  for  your  letter.  I  am 
quite  well  to-day,  have  entirely  recovered  the  faintncss 
that  oppressed  me  yesterday,  and  think  that  I  not  only  did 
not  suffer  from  my  w^alk  last  night,  but,  on  the  contrary, 
derived  benefit  from  it.  I  have  been  out  this  morning, 
and  hope  to  ride  to-morrow.  You  may  be  sure,  my  own 
darling,  that  you  never  cost  me  one  moment's  uneasiness, 
but  when  you  suffer  yourself  from  your  love  to  me. 

And  now,  my  pretty  Poodle,  when  oo  letter  seems 
dejected  and  low-spirited,  I  feel  a  much  keener  pang  than 
any  cold  caught  last  night  could  have  occasioned.  I  own, 
however,  that  I  did  not  get  quite  so  well  off  as  I  was  just 
boasting,  for  I  caught  a  ''sore  throat  and  a  pain  in  my 
shoulder" — did  I  not  catch  them,  do  I  not  feel  them,  my 
poor,  dear  love,  for  if  you  suffer  from  them,  do  not  If 
Do,  my  darling,  take  the  greatest  care  of  ooself.  I  join 
my  supplications  to  Miss  Fordyce's.  I  own  to  you.  Rose, 
that  my  masculine  dignity  is  very  much  offended  by  the 
manner   in   which  you   receive  my  counsels  and   advice ; 


Lord  Lyttons  Letters.  149 

whatever  they  bo,  whether  in  conduct  or  in  clothing,  satir- 
izing or  sore  throats,  my  most  earnest  requests  are  always 
attended  with  an  ill-success  discouraging  to  a  better  feel- 
ing, I  trust  than  vanity. 

Many  thanks,  my  dearest  girl,  for  your  advice,  which  I 
will  take.  If  Colburn  does  not  receive  "  Falkland,"  it 
shall  for  the  present  be  put  upon  the  shelf,  tho'  I  liad 
intended  to  take  it  to  Murray.  I  find  Colbuin's  answer 
has  not  yet  been  received,  but  will  be  this  evening. 

Miss  Richardson  wrote  to  my  mother  to  enquire  after 
my  health.  Humph  !  I  am  afraid,  dearest,  that  I  was 
cold  to  you  yesterday,  for  there  is  a  phrase  in  your  letter 
which  makes  me  think  you  imagined  *'I  seemed  tired  of 
you."  But  pray,  my  Beauty,  do  not  imagine  anything  so 
unworthy  of  me.  I  was  very  tired  of  myself,  and  exceed- 
ingly faint  and  rather  unwell  ;  but  if  I  said  or  looked  any- 
thing to  wound  you,  such  words  and  looks  wronged  my 
thoughts.  More  than  ever,  my  dearest  Poodle,  did  Puppy 
feel  how  much  he  adores  you.  Your  letter,  my  own  love, 
is  not  quite  so  kind  as  usual ;  but  I  enter  fully  into  all 
your  feelings,  and  hope  still  more  than  yourself  for  the 
arrival  of  that  day,  which  can  alone  change  them.  Lady 
sends  her  best  comp^*  :  she  slept  on  Puppy's  bed  last  night, 
as  a  compliment  to  00  request.  Me  intends  calling  au 
plulol  possible  on  Lady  Caroline.  God  bless  00,  my  own 
Poodle, — twenty  thousand  kisses  to  00  poor  shoulder.  Do 
take  care  of  ooself. 

Ever,  ever  your  own  Puppy. 

LXXX. 

To  Miss  "Wheeler,  40,  Somerset  Street. 

[His  sweet  voice. — His  brother  William  in  love.] 

My  Dearest,  Dearest  Love, — I  will  send  you  a  few  lines 
as  you  wished.     There  is  such  a  beautiful  voice  singing 


150  Lord  Lyttons  Letters. 

under  tlie  windows,  it  puts  me  in  mind  of  00  own  sweet, 

sweet  tone.    Well,  but  I  have  a  great  mind  to  play  the 

to-night,  for  I  have  every  reason  to  be  angry,  every — have 
I  not  ?  Nevertheless,  I  will  smother  all  my  indignation 
and  be  tame,  quite  tame. 

I  got  home  and  found  my  eldest  brother  here  Avith 
Henry.  He  staid  to  dinner  with  us,  and  is  noAV  walking 
about  the  room  in  very  high  spirits,  waving  my  stick  in  a 
most  terrific  manner.  Oh,  that  love,  that  love  !  thank 
Heaven  you  and  I  are  free  from  such  folly  !  And  then 
after  dinner,  w**  consisted  of  bad — no  matter  what  (for 
after  dinner  one  can't  well  talk  of  it),  while  we  can  talk  of 
having  been  *'add"  after  we  have, — which,  dearest,  is 
the  advantage  of  love  over  all  things. 

Do  you  know,  my  own  love,  that  I  think  I  shall  take  to 
writing  pretty  letters  to  you,  for  I  am  really  in  great  doubt 
what  to  write  at  all,  since  everything  offends  00.  Good- 
bye, my  Angel,  my  love,  good-bve  !     Ever  your  own 

P Y. 

My  dearest,  dearest  love,  do  remember  that  there  is 
nothing  in  my  character  ever  likely  to  actuate  me  in  my 
conduct  except  love.  Would  to  God  that  my  pretty  Poo- 
dle could  guess  how  I  loved  her. 

LXXXI. 

Miss  Wheelee,  40,  Somerset  Street. 

["  Falkland." — "  Mortimer." — Disgracefully  bad.] 

My  Dearest  Love, — I  have  read  the  extract,  and  think  it 
excellent,  much  better  than  anything  in  ''Brambletye 
House  " — it  is  very  wittily  and  interestingly  sketched,  and 
had  it  been  written  with  a  little  more  care  in  the  wording, 
such  as  avoiding  the  repetition  of  the  same  expletive  two 
or  three  times  in  a  sentence,  would  have  been  quite  perfect, 
as  well  as  brilliant,  in  point  of  style.     The  jest  from  Croesus 


Lord  Lyttoiis  Letters.  151 

is,  I  su|)pose,  j'oiirs  ;  it  is  very  good  indeed  ;  so  indeed  are 
all  the  hoii  mots.  It  would  be  difficult  to  suppose  a  woman, 
wrote  with  so  much  strength  and  spirit.  I  own  that  I  am 
no  great  admirer  of  the  subject  upon  which  3^ou  have 
written,  either  in  itself  or  in  your  jocculiar  adoption  of  it. 
However,  that  is  done,  and  I  can  only  therefore  express  my 
admiration,  of  the  success  with  vi^  you  have  treated  it.  I 
long  to  read  all,  which  I  have  not  yet  been  able  to  do. 

I  had  written  to  you  when  the  enclosed  note  came  f  10m 

d — d  Miss  R ,     You  won't  have  the   dog,  will   y^u  ? 

Admire  her  insolence  in  calling  you  **  Rosina  Wheeler."  I 
have  never  yet  answered  her  impertinent  note.  ''  Mark  my 
words,"  as  Orator  Thelwall  says,  "  She  will  ask  me  for 
money  soon  !"  My  mother  returns  to  Town  Monday  or 
Tuesday  on  account  of  some  domestic  grievance,  and  I  fear 
I  shall  not  be  able  to  go  into  the  country  for  some  days. 
My  health  absolutely  requires  it;  but  one  cannot  withstand 
the  Fates.  I  suppose  now,  I  shall  stay  till  "  Falkland  "  is 
reflnishcd.     Tiiat  book  was  advertized  to-day  in  the  paj^ers. 

I  am  beginning  now  to  feel  the  approaches  of  old  age, 
for  I  find  that  I  have  nerves — a  discovery  one  should  never 
make  in  youth.  I  am,  in  short,  out  of  humour,  out  of 
spirits,  out  of  health,  and  everything  but  out  of  love.  You 
cannot  have  "Mortimer  "  to-night — not  till  to-morrow — if, 
indeed,  I  do  not  put  it  in  the  fire.  1  was  looking  over  it 
this  morning;  it  is  disgracefully  bad.  If  "Falkland" 
succeeds,  I  certainly  shall  not  publish  it.  I  was  quite 
shocked  with  it.  I  am,  in  truth,  at  this  moment  in  euch  a 
rage  with  myself  and  everything,  that  if  it  were  not  for  you 
I  should  take  Henery's  mission  and  set  off  to  Columbia 
to-morrow. 

I  cannot  write  more — not  but  that  I  have  time  enough, 
but  because  I  am  so  very  unaniiable  that  1  can  say  nothing 
you  would  like,  except  that  I  am,  my  deai',  dear,  dearest 
darling,  love  and  Poodle,  your  own  adoring  Puppy. 


152  Lord  Ly lions  Letters. 


LXXXII. 

To  Miss  Wheeler. 

[His  letters  tiansciipts  of  liis  feelinirs. — Fever,  faint ness,  change  of 
health. — Praise  of  lier  share  in  "  Dame  Rebecca  Berry." — Going 
to  seaside. — "  3Iortimer."] 

My  Angel  Poodle, — I  was  so  terribly  blue-devillcd 
yesterday  that  I  fear  my  letter  partook  of  the  colours  of 
my  mind — that  indeed  is  natural  enough,  for  I  have  been 
so  accustomed  to  make  my  letters  transcripts  OF  my  feel- 
ings, that  even  my  weaknesses  are  as  faithfully  copied  as 
those  of  my  heart.  So  that  you  must  carry  the  conjugal 
bargain  even  to  epistles  and  take  them  in  the  wholesale 
way  for  better  for  worse.  I  woke  this  morning  as  I  had 
anticipated,  in  a  high  degree  of  fever,  and  what  with 
faintness.shivcrings,  etc.,  thought  fit  to  see  my  Doctor.  I 
am  now  better,  tho'  still  unwell.  I  cannot  in  any  way 
account  for  the  great  change  in  ray  health  during  the  last 
five  cr  six  weeks,  unless,  darling,  it;  be  longing  for  you. 
Do,  if  you  can  spare  it,  send  me  "Dame  Rebecca  Berry''; 
it  is  not  yet  out  among  the  booksellers,  and  I  have  there- 
fore been  quite  unable  to  i^rocure  it.  It  would  give  me 
great  solace  in  my  present  tribulation  to  read  anything 
that  comes  from  you. 

Twenty  million  kisses  for  00  kindness  in  writing  last 
night.  Your  letter,  though,  gave  me  some  pain — not  in 
itself,  but  in  my  having  called  it  forth.  I  did  not  mean 
my  bitterness  of  spirit  to  extend  to  you.  Your  extract — 
but  that  I  told  you  before, — is  charmingly  written. 
Nothing  could  have  been  conceived  in  better  taste  or 
executed  with  greater  spirit  and  wit.  I  quite  ngree  with 
Saunders  that  nothing  in  ''Woodstock''  or  "  Brambletye 
House"  exceeds  it.     Yes,  darling,  I  could  go  to  K , 


Lord  Lyttons  Letters.  153 

tho'  my  Mother  were  not  there  in  general ;  but  not  at 
pi«sent,  because  there  is  a  general  discharge  of  the  women 
servants.  If  I  stay  here  much  longer,  the  benefit  of  tlic 
country  will  come  too  late  ;  possibly,  therefore,  I  m:iy  go  to 
the  sea  for  a  week  or  two.  I  cannot  stir,  however,  till  1 
have  sold  my  horses. 

Another  note  from  Miss  Richardson — apologies,  etc. 
There  is  only  one  thing  worse  than  acting  ill,  and  that  is 
excusing  it. 

I  send  you  "  Mortimer.'*  Will  you  manage  to  sew  the 
continuing  pages  somewhat  neater,  and  put  them  in  brown- 
paper  cover  ?  All  the  best  part  you  have  seen.  I  hope, 
my  adored  Poodle,  that  Puppy  will  hear  from  you  soon  ; 
your  letter  will  be  my  best  medicine.  B3f-the-bye,  Lady 
was  lost  yestez'day  in  Oxford  St.  After  much  toil  and 
labour  of  search,  a  bright  thought  seized  me  to  send  to 
Boys  water.     She  loas  there  I 

Adieu,  darling  !  Excuse  this  dull  letter;  if  I  could 
transfuse  my  heart,  it  would  please  you  better.  God  bless 
you,  my  Angel  of  Hope  and  Comfort.     Farewell. 

E.  B. 

I  shall  send  back,  dearest,  Campbell's  Verses  to-morrow. 
I  must  copy  them  first ;  They  are  very  pretty — or  at  least 
belonging  to  you,  I  think  so. 

LXXXIII. 

To  Miss  Wheeler. 

[Her  opinion  of  "  Falkland  "  to  be  given.] 

My  Adored  And  Darling  Poodle, — I  am  so  very  sorry 
that  I  have  only  just  received  your  letter,  and  therefore  that 
you  will  not  hear  from  me  till  late  in  the  evening.  My 
adored  Rose,  your  letter  gave  mo  the  greatest  pain — it  only 
increased  my  feelings  of  remorse  at  having  ever — but  enough 
of  this,  my  own  love,  and  after  ail  if  I  can  make  the  future 


154  Lord  Lyttoris  Letters. 

repay  you  for  the  past,  we  shall  only  find  happiness  in  the 
very  reflections  that  now  are  so  mingled  with  regret.  I  do 
so  hope  that  yon  are  quite  recovered,  and  that  you  are  now 
free  from  all  that  can  annoy  you  unconnected  with  mo. 

Your  verses,  which  only  I  received  late  hist  night,  are 
beautiful  ;  very  witty,  and  with  a  great  deal  of  truth  in  the 
point — at  the  same  time,  my  darling,  I  cannot  agi'ee  with 
you  that  your  character  is  taken  from  others  Avith  whom 
yon  live.  God  forbid  it  should  be,  since  oo  are  to  live  witli 
such  a  reprobate  as  Puppy,  whom  you  are  to  make  so  mnch 
better  and  worthier  of  Poodle.  Really,  darling,  as  Col. 
Montagu  would  sa\^,  you  have  a  delicacy  and  point  in  your 
wit  which  is  quite  peculiar  to  ooself.  It  is  a  sword  in  a 
myrtle  bough,  like  Harmodius's. 

I  send  00  my — no  not  novel.  I  have  not  written  my 
Preface  yet. 

I  am  going  to  express  in  it,  1st,  that  I  do  not  claim  for 
it  the  name  of  novel — that  if  not  superior  to,  it  is  different 
from  words  of  that  nature  ;  2nd,  that  its  object  is  to  sliow 
the  workings  of  a  strong  and  original  mind,  and  to  teach 
the  knowledge  of  human  nature,  rather  by  thought  and 
reflection  than  in  that  series  of  distorted  incidents  which 
form  Novels  in  general.  I  shall  claim  also  some  merit  in 
the  manner  T  have  expressed  passion,  and  that,  for  instance, 
in  the  very  ^ault  which  has  been  found  in  me,  namely  that 
in  love  I  have  made  a  mind — otherwise  strong — wavering  and 
undecided,  I  have  testified  some  observations  of  Truth  and 
Nature.  Now,  my  darling,  let  me  have  your  opinion  with- 
out any  flattery  whatsoever.  I  want  to  know  candidly  what 
you  think  of  it,  and  you  must  remember  that,  tho'  my 
vanity  may  make  me  wish  to  be  well  thought  of,  yet  any 
individual  effort  of  mine  has  nothing  to  do  with  my  general 
merit,  and  7  know  too  well  that  you  exapge'ate  my  al)ilities 
on  the  whole  to  be  hurt  if  you  don't  think  much  of  this 
particular  attempt  of  them.     I  am  really  and  unaffectedly 


Lord  Lyttons  Letters,  1 5  5 

so  doubtful  whether  this  is  bad  or  good,  that  I  should  be 
most  sincerely  obliged  by  your  most  sincere  opinion.  Now 
I  have  said  enough  on  this  subject,  and  I  trust  to  you  for 
your  answer.  Wliat  shall  I  write  now,  for  I  am  not  going 
to  be  idle  ?  I  can't  tell  yet  till  I  have  had  your  opinion  on 
this,  for  that  will  make  my  decision  as  to  the  kind  of  style 
of  the  works  I  shall  begin. 

I  will  write  to  00  a  long  letter  to-morrow.  I  am 
deafened  to  death  at  this  moment  by  Villiers  and  William, 
who  are  talking  with  such  d — d  emphasis,  that  my  whole 
mind  is  perfectly  reeling  with  the  noise.  How  is  00  tooth  ? 
Let  me  send  it  200  [kissesl.  Ah  !  dearest,  I  wish  indeed 
you  were  here  !  How,  how  can  we  support  this  unmitigated 
separation  ?  You  shall  hear  from  me  early  to-morrow — 
tell  me  by-the-byc,  if  you  can  read  the  MS.,  and  oh  !  will 
00  fasten  it  better  and  sew  it  up  altogether  ?  I  will  send 
00  the  Preface  to-morrow  together  with  the  A — Register  ; 
but  00  must  let  me  have  the  book  as  soon  as  00  can.  Rose, 
Rose,  Rose.  There,  with  those  three  words  a  different 
spirit  seems  to  enter  and  pervade  me — I  am  as  it  were 
transplanted  to  the  air  made  holy  by  your  breath.  All 
these  wearying,  palling  sensations — dirived  from  the  world 
subside.  A  new  intoxication  seizes  my  soul.  Oh,  that  I 
where  witli  you,  and  that  I  had  not  to  start  from  all 
reveries  on  you,  to  find  you  7iot.     God  bless  00,  darling. 

Farewell  dearest,  dearest,  dearest  Poodle. 

LXXXIV. 

To  Miss  Wheeler. 

[Miss  Spence. — His  not  approving  of  Miss  Wheeler's  opinion  of  the 
alterations  in  "Falldand.'] 

My  Darling  Poodle, — Ten  million  kisses  for  3«'jur  letters 
and  advice.  I  am  so  haj)py  that  you  are  better,  that  I 
think  I  have  no  sorrow  left  that  you  have  been  so  ill.     1 


156  Lord  Lyttons  Letters. 

am  so  much  obliged  to  you  for  taking  care  of  yourself ;  in 
your  telling  me  so,  I  feel  better  myself — a  plain  proof  that 
we  are  one.  Pray  go  to  bed  early  to-night,  and  sleep,  my 
darling.  Ah !  if  I  wore  with  you,  would  you  skn'p  ? 
That  recollection  alone  is  sufficient  to  prevent  my  doing  s  >, 
and  therefore  I  will  turn  away.  I  called  at  Ilailey's,  my 
library  in  Berkeley  Square,  for  Miss  Spence's  book  ;  they 
told  me  they  liad  sent  for  2  or  3  copies,  but  that  on  being 
informed  by  Miss  Spence  that  she  was  the  authoress,  they 
had  pnt  oflf  having  them.  "That  Lady,"  said  the  young 
Mr.  Ilailey,  "  is  not  much  esteemed  as  a  Avritcr  !"  I  have, 
however,  ordered  him  to  procure  me  a  copy  forthwith.  I 
called  on  my  mother  ;  she  was  out,  but  I  saw  in  the  hall 
a  small  brown  paper  parcel  on.  which  was  inscribed  "To 
Mr.  Bulwer  Lytton  with  Miss  Spence's  compK" 

To  get  rid  of  this  subject  of  Authorship  let  me  answer 
your  observations  upon  "Falkland,"  !«*■  with  respect  to  my 
answer,  I  am  sorry  you  did  not  like  it.  I  quite  disagree 
with  you  in  thinking  my  using  the  terms  of  "hasty 
inspection  and  misjudging  criticisms"  uncalled  for,  firstly, 
because  that  Grattan  himself  says  the  former  was  hasty, 
and  there  is  thei'cfore  no  wonder  that  the  latter  were  mis- 
judging, secondly,  because  it  is  good  policy  to  assume  a 
"high  hand"  with  people  of  tliat  description,  as  I  think 
the  enclosed  will  shew  you  ;  for  the  rest,  my  own  angel,  it 
was  not  upon  tl)at  answer  that  I  asked  your  advice,  and 
for  this  very  simple  reason  that  I  had  decided  upon  it. 
Feelings  are  like  Honour — no  one  can  advise  you  upon 
their  expression  :  you  yourself  are  the  only  judge.  With 
rogard  to  the  proposed  alteration  in  "  Falkland,"  in  which 
I  did  ask  your  pure  and  sound  judgment,  you  have  entirely 
put  my  proposed  plan  out  of  the  question  ;  but  what  shall 
I  iidopt  ?  I  have  undertaken  to  furnish  another  character 
and  an  enlarged  plot,  and  now  that  "  Falkland  "  is  to  be 
published,  I  wish  to  make  it  much  better.     I  want  to  give 


Lord  Lyttons  Letters.  157 

it  the  addition  of  interest  and  incident,  and  I  quite  agree 
with  you  thiit  the  hero  is  wholly  independent  of  the  story, 
tho'  I  disagree  with  you  that  the  design  {not  the  ph)t, 
mind)  is  not  unique.  The  design  is  to  denote  the  progress 
of  the  mind  by  feelings  and  .-iffections,  and  not  by  tho 
events  which  formed  them.  I  know  no  work  ever  yet 
written  with  this  design,  and  I  think  therefore  you  have 
made  some  mistake  between  ''^?o^"and"  design/'  Do 
however,  think  of  some  connected  mystery  or  story  sup- 
ported from  the  beginning,  and  ending  with  Emily's  death. 
Pray,  had  I  not  better  noio  wait  till  "Falkland"  is  pub- 
lished before  I  take  "  Mortimer"  to  a  bookseller;  ;f  tho 
former  succeeds,  I  can  get  more  for  the  latter. 

I  do  nor,  my  own  most  beautiful  Idol,  think  your 
extracted  picture  from  **  La  Belle  AssemUee  "  pretty  ;  but 
then  my  whole  world  of  female  beauty  is  you,  and  nothing 
not  you  ever  seems  to  me  tolerable.  With  regard  to  Miss 
Kcnrick,  I  am  in  ecstacy  about  her  taking  your  picture  ;  if 
it  be  well  done,  I  can  love  it.  Do  contrive  that  I  may  go 
with  3'ou  the  first  time,  that  I  may  see  how  she  goes  about 
it.  I  long  more  and  more  to  have  your  picture,  and  now 
that  I  am  about  to  leave  you,  I  think  it  would  be  such  a 
companion  till  I  see  you  again. 

I  continue  ill  and  feverish.  I  shall  go  to  Knebworth  as 
soon  as  I  can.  My  Mother,  I  believe,  leaves  Town  to-mor- 
row. And  now,  my  beautiful  and  betrothed  Angel,  my 
dream  when  absent,  my  universe  when  present,  good-bye. 
I  shall  leave  this.  1  was  twice  thro'  your  street  to-day, 
but  did  not  see  you.  Once  more  [marks  of  kisses.]  Pray, 
pray  take  care  of  ooself. 

Puppy. 

I  have  a  very  impertinent  letter  from  Miss  Richardson. 


158  Lord  Lyttons  Letters. 

LXXXV. 

To  Miss  Wheeler,  40,  Somerset  Street. 

[Refers  to  the  Court  Scenes  written  for  Miss  Spcnce  in  "Dame 
Rebecca  Beiry  "  when  Miss  AVlieeler  was  only  20  years  old. — 
His  mother  quarrels  with  him. — "Mortimer."] 

My  Dearest,  Dearest  Love, — How  Ter}^  very  much  I 
thank  and  kiss  you  for  writing  so  early  ; — and  so  oo  did 
not  laugh,  darling,  at  my  allusion,  but  oo  Avent  to  the 
glass  ;yid  oo  saw  oo  was  so  bootiful  that  oo  could  not  help 
forgiving  me  ?  0  zoo  darling  !  how  me  does  long  and  pine 
for  00  I  There  is  nothing  beautiful  which  does  not  recall 
and  nothing  odious  from  which  I  do  not  turn  to  regret  oo. 
Twice  have  I  sent  for  "Dame  Rebecca  Berry"  within  the 
last  hour,  and  twice  have  I  Jailed  of  success.  I  am  going 
to  dine  with  Henry  presently,  and  shall  call  for  it  in  my 
way.  I  long  so  to  see  it,  and  1  care  not  a  straw  if  it  be 
good  or  bad,  so  long  as  I  come  to  a  phrase,  a  word,  written 
by  you,  that  I  may  stop  to  think  over  and  recall  you.- 
Xever  mind  the  mottoes,  darling.  They  are  the  least  of 
all  in  consequence, — they  are  like  our  shakes  of  the  paw 
before  Miss  Spence  in  comparison  to  the  naughty  kisses 
that  come  afterwards.  No  !  my  own  Angel,  my  Mother's 
quarrels  with  me  have  nothing  to  do  with  oo,  and  at  this 
moment  we  are  the  best  of  friends  in  the  world.  Ah  ! 
darling,  did  oo  pass  a  feverish  bad  night  ?  Why  was  it 
not  in  my  arms  ?  Could  me  not  have  kissed  oo  well  ? 
Could  me  not  have  kissed  the  pain  from  your  chest,  and 
the  fire  from  your  head  ?  Let  me  send  you  200,000,000 
\inarlcs  of  kisses^  to  try.  Alas  !  these  are  the  prescription 
without  the  medicine. 

"  What  have  I  been  doing  to-day  ?"  Really  I  cannot 
answer — stringing  trifles  together,  and  ''  making  much  ado 


Lord  Lyttoris  Letters.  159 

about  nothing."  First  of  all,  Henry  breakfasted  with  us  ; 
secondly,  I  tried  a  new  horse ;  thirdly,  I  Avent  to  8 
horse  dealers  to  part  with  those  I  have  ;  fourthly,  I  came 
in  very  cold,  and  wrote  30  pages  {my  pages,  remember)  of 
"  Mortimer  "  amidst  all  the  Babel  of  three  visitors  to  m^ 
brother;  and  now,  fifthly,  I  sit  down  to  write  to  00. 
Then,  then,  darling,  Puppy  is  going  to  dress  and  dinc", 
spend  the  evening  in  the  Freemasons'  Tavern,  and  the 
night  in  finishing  "Mortimer."  To-morrow  evening  you 
will  have  it. 

I  cannot  find  Miss  Richardson's  note,  or  I  would  send 
it  you — it  toas  impertinent.  I  am  noio  going  to  answer  it. 
So  me  does  not  let  00  sleep  at  night,  eh  Poodle  ?  It  Avould 
be  too  bad  if  00  did — there  must  be  retribution  even  in 
love.  Sleep  to-night,  darling,  and  me  will,  and  then  we 
shall  dream  together  and  meet.  Good-bye,  my  angel,  my 
darling,  my  beauty,  my  own  own  love,  my  Poodle.  Good- 
bye, once  more.     Nine  million  kisses.     Farewell. 

E.  L.  B.  Puppy  De  Poodle. 

LXXXVI. 

To  Miss  Wheeler,  Somerset  Street. 

[Colburn.— "Mortimer."— Quarrel  and  reconciliation  with  his 
mother.] 

My  Love  And  Darling  Poodle, — Your  dear  letter  was 
brought  to  me  about  2  hours  since.  I  have  much  pleas- 
ure in  congratulating  you  on  the  recovery  of  Moustache. 
Happy  dog  to  be  with  you — would  that  I  were  in  his  place. 
Should  I  not  nestle  to  00  ?  Should  I  not  lick  00  hand  ? 
And  should  I  not  jump  upon  00  knee?  AIi,  dearest — 
laughs  Poodle — and  so  me  sends  00  200U  kisses  for  it,  for 
me  denies  that  "  Beauty's  tears  are  lovelier  than  her  smiles. 
Zoo  smiles  are  emanations  from  00,  and  00  laugh,  darling, 
is  the  only  one  which  was  ever  music.     "  JS^ever,"  said  a 


i6o  Lord  Lyttofis  Letters. 

Mr.  Heathcote,  who  dined  with  ns  just  now,  "never 
marry  a  clever  woman."  Shall  I  take  his  advice,  darling  ? 
How  clever,  by  the  way,  your  Juvenile  friend's  letter  is  it 
combines  amusement  with  edification,  and  I  cannot  but 
admire  the  keen  satire  with  which  she  implied  that  the 
dog  yon  gave  Mary  Anne  wanted  washing  the  very  day  it 
was  received.  So  like  Poodle.  Why  I  can  fancy  you 
saying  Hem,  my  Angel. 

Remember  the  pocket-handkerchief  at  Miss  Spence's — 
*'  Ah,  thought  for  ever  sad  for  ever  dear  !"  So  zoo  is  not 
to  be  hummed  by  my  letter  asking  oo  advice  ;  no,  because 
00  i.s  not  a  hird  but  a  Poodle,  the  most  sagacious  of  all 
dogs  ;  but  me  assures  oo  that  me  never,  never  said  one  word 
of  00  me  did  not  think,  and  me  think  oo  has  the  best  and 
acutest  judgment  in  all  things  except  in  not  seeing  the 
merits  of  Kee])cr's  "Travels"  and  Mr.  Hood's  "Last 
Man." 

Me  quite  forgot  to  send  oo  Colburn's  note,  which  me 
has  since  mislaid.  It  was  exceedingly  civil  and  even 
obsequious.  Of  course  "  the  hints  were  only  ment  for  my 
better  judgment."  My  observations  respecting  them  were 
perfectly  correct.  I  should  be  subjected  to  no  further 
inspection  whatever,  and  the  work  should  be  published  in 
one  week  after  its  return.  Mr.  Colburn  concluded  by  say- 
ing he  should  announce  the  work  in  his  list.  So  much  for 
that  work,  which  I  am  too  ill  to  begin  till  I  get  to  Kneb- 
worth.  As  for  "  Mortimer,"  oo  shall  see  the  first  volume 
before  I  go.  A  thousand  thanks  for  oo  opinion,  which  me 
will  endeavour  to  embody,  tho'  me  thinks  me  must  add 
something  still  more  romantic.  Me  is  dying  to  get  "  Dame 
Rebecca  BeiTy,"but  though  me  has  sent  3  tinles  me  has  not 
yet  been  able.  Perhaps  oo  can  send  me  what  oo  has  written 
for  an  hour  or  two  to-morrow  ?  At  all  events,  however,  me 
shall  have  it  by  the  course  of  to-morrow. 

I  had  a  very  stormy  quarrel  with  my  Mother  last  night, 


Lord  Lyttons  Letters.  i6i 

which,  liowever,  at  last  ended  in  a  complete  reconciliation 
— ^morc  full  and  perfect  than  we  have  had  for  some  months. 

I  go  to  K on   Monday.     I  am  very  sanguine   of  the 

benifit  of  the  country  ;  no  air  agrees  with  me  like  Knob- 
worth.  And  was  oo  bluedivilled  this  morning  ?  I  thought 
Angels  were  exempt  from  tlie  pains  of  the  Infernals  !  My 
darling  girl,  do  not  vex  yourself.  I  hope  to  be  able  to 
arrange  my  affairs  sooner  than  we  bad  anticipated — in  the 
meanwhile  keep  up  your  spirits.  As  for  me,  I  preach 
without  practising,  for  I  am  wretched — much  more  so  than 
you  Can  imagine. 

[The  remainder  of  this  letter  too  much  torn  to  be 
deciphered.] 

LXXXVII. 

To  Miss  Wheeler,  40,  Somerset  Street. 

[Removed  to  St.  James's  Square.] 

My  Dearest  Love  And  Most  Divine  Poodle, — 

I  am  longing  to  hear  how  you  are,  having  been  very 
uneasy  about  your  appearance  of  languor  in  the  morning. 
Do  tell  me  all  about  oosclf  ;  if  anything  vexes  oo  say  it  at 
once.  Zoo  may  be  sure  that  oo  cannot  make  me  more 
unhappy  than  by  appearing  so  yourself. 

Blustrode  itself,  my  prettiest,  is  not  to  be  let ;  it  is  some 
subordinate  mansion  situated  in  the  Park,  and  therefore 
out  of  the  question.  Since  I  saw  you  I  have  heard  and 
enquired  into  another,  Armathwayte  Hall  in  Cumberland  : 
I  tliink  it  might  be  obtained  for  £100  a  year.  Suppose  we 
ti-y  to  hire  it  for  one  year  only,  during  w**.  time  we  can  live 
cheap,  and  at  the  end  of  a  year  we  shall  know  our  fortune 
more  accurately  ?  It  is  a  beautiful  country,  and  situated 
on  a  lake  ;  it  would  be  too  far  from  London  to  make  a 
residence,  but  if  we  could  get  it  for  one  year  we  might ;  tell 
mo  what  oo  thinks.  I  have  moved  into  St.  Jaujes's 
Square.     Oh,  darling,  I  was  going  to  say  to  you  to-day, 


1 62  Lord  Lyttons   Letters. 

but  your  licad-ache  made  mc  forget  it,  that  since  oo  docs 
not  sleep  well  and  gets  up  earlier  than  oo  likes  for  oo  pic- 
ture— since  on  does  this,  oo  sail  not  write  to  Puppy  of  a 
morning  any  more  ;  mc  will  not  be  so  stdfish  ;  and  there- 
fore me  positively  forbids  it,  and  in  order  to  make  up  for  it 
me  lays  my  positive  Commands  on  oo  to  think  OF  me  twice 
as  much  instead. 

Good-bye,  my  angel  little  dog  \Jiere  is  a  sketch  of  a 
poodle].  Good-bye,  and  do  for  Heaven's  sake  tell  me  how 
oo  is,  and  if  oo  is  at  all  vexed  Avith  oo  own  poor  Puppy,  or 
any  one  else. 

There  is  a  review,  favourable  tlio'  unflattering,  of  "Dame 
Rebecca  Berry  "  in  the  "Monthly  Review;"  it  is  a  very 
silly  criticism. 

By-the-bye,  Armathwayte  Ilall  won't  do,  for  it  will  take 
one  a  month  merely  to  go  do^vn  and  see  it,  and  besides  it 
raius  so  d — bly  in  those  Lake  Countries 

LXXXVIII. 

To  Mrss  Wheeler,  40,  Somerset  Street. 

[Entreating  her  not  to  trifle  with  their  happiness,  nor  to  take  offence 
at  trifles.] 

Rose,  my  own  dear  love,  do  not  be  uneasy  about  me, — I 
will  stay  in  Town  till  you  are  better.  I  will  not  answer 
your  other  note  intended  for  me  last  night  now.  Foolish, 
foolish  girl  that  you  are,  to  trifle  so  with  the  happiness  of 
both  of  us  !  Never  mind,  darling,  my  own  darling,  any- 
thing but  yourself,  Get  well — quite  wpII — that  I  may  ! — till 
you  are  so,  I  shall  not  stir. 

Good-bye  for  the  present,  Rose.  Oh  !  why,  why  could 
you  take  offence  at  such  trifles  ?  Was  it  not  natural  that  I 
should  vindicate  my  mother  from  epithets  so  strong,  and — 
as  /at  least  thought — so  misplaced  ? 

Rose,  my  love,  my  Angel,  do  beware  of  your  own  power 


Lord  Lyttons   Letters.  163 

of  rendering  us  unhappy  ;  but  I  said  I  will  not  ansv.-er  this 
now,  and  will  not.  I  will  only,  my  dearest,  dearest  girl, 
thank  you  for  your  anxiety.  I  am  much  better ;  the 
country  air  will  restore  me  in  a  week — it  is  only  that  which 
I  languish  for.  Do  get  well  then,  my  dearest  love,  my 
Poodle,  for  my  sake. 

Puppy. 
Have  I  tlianked  you  enough  ?     No,  my  angel,  it  is  in 
parentheses  that  I  must  both  thank  and  scold  you  \iinarlcs 
of  kisses]. 

LXXXIX. 

To  Miss  Wheeler,  40,  Somerset  Street,  Portman  Square, 
London. 

[Just  arrived  at  Brighton.] 

(Postmark,  Brighton,  Feh.  Wi,  1837. 

My  Dearest  Love, — I  am  arrived  already  much  better 
from  the  journey  ;  air  and  exercise  will  soon  entirely  restore 
me.  I  have  only  time  now.  In  order  to  save  the  post,  to 
write  two  lines,  but  I  shall  write  you  a  very  long  letter  to- 
morrow, for  I  have  a  great  deal  to  say.  In  the  meanwhile 
I  am  only  sensible  to  the  hope  of  hearing  from  you  to-mor- 
row. I  hope  to  God  that  you  are  well,  or  at  least  greatly 
recovered.  Pray  don't  expose  yi'self  at  Miss  Kenrick's. 
Being  in  such  haste  I  can  write  no  more.  God  bless  you, 
my  own  dear  love  and  life  !      Yours  ever  and  as  ever, 

E.  L.  B. 

Direct  at  the  Post  OflSce. 


164  Lord  Lyttons  Letters, 


XC. 

To  Miss  R.  Wheelee,   40,    Somerset  Street,     Portman 
Square,  London. 

[Lady  Caroline  to  be  despised. — Objection  to  her  letters. — Their 
expression  of  resentment. — Her  pride. — Want  of  Love.—  Fe:ir  of 
an  ultimate  break.] 

Brighton,  Fel.  Uth,  1827. 
My  Dearest  Love,  My  Own  Dear  Poodle, — 

I  am  so  delighted  that  Miss  Kenrick  has  succeeded  so 
well  ;  I  am  perfectly  impatient  to  see  her  performance. 
Pray,  pray  let  me  be  able  to  coax  her  out  ( f  the  treasure. 
Zoo  knows  that  00  sail  have  anything  00  likes  in  exchange, 
for  there  is  nothing  I  would  not  give  to  possess  a  real  like- 
ness of  you.  Has  she  done  justice  to  tliose  deep,  deep  eyes, 
to  that  beautiful  mouth  (my  source  and  well  of  kisses),  to 
the  divine  turn  of  your  head,  and  to  that  neck  and  bosom 
where  I  could  lye  forever  and  forget  all  things  but  you  ? 
Tell  me,  dearest,  each  particular;  tell  me  where  she  has 
failed,  and  in  what  she  has  best  succeeded,  I  am  very  angry 
that  she  has  altered  the  place  of  the  dimple  !  Neither  God 
nor  Sir  G.  Kneller  could  improve  you. 

Poor  Miss  Richardson  !  the  day  before  I  left  London  I 
had  another  letter  from  her.  Ts  she  very,  very  poor  ? — not 
literally  destitute,  I  hope  ;  had  she  not  better  advertize  for 
a  place  as  companion  ?  As  for  Lady  Caroline,  I  think  her 
much  more  to  be  despised  and  blamed  ;  but  it  is  always  the 
lowest  who  is  thought  the  most  contemptible,  whereas 
poverty  itself  is  an  excuse.  Fortune  is  like  Fashion  ;  our 
opinions  always  follow  her  example.  I  was  greatly  amused 
by  your  account  of  Miss  Spence's  party,  especially  of  Mr. 
Bentham,  and  I  admire  my  pretty  Poodle  turning  Political 


Lord  Lyttons   Letters.  165 

Economist  and  Logistator,  I  shall  keep  her  much  better 
employed  in  making  collars  for  Puppy,  and  shall  I  kiss  hor 
so  mucli  that  she  will  forget  how  to  open  her  moutli  for 
any  other  purpose. 

I  believe  you  are  to  tlmnk  my  brother  William  for  Mr. 
Ilnssey's  conversion,  I  agree  with  you  as  to  its  importance 
as  an  Individnal,  but  as  one  of  the  great  Community  it  is 
not  without  its  value.  Say  what  you  will,  the  larger  part 
of  the  world  arc  no  better  than  Hussey's  ;  and  yet  it  is  for 
them  tiiat  we  write  books  and  read  them,  act  well  and  seem 
better  ;  and  we  are  in  the  right  to  do  so. 

I  am  very  sorry  to  hear  of  Elizabeth's  ill-health — pray 
do  not  forget  my  good  wishes,  etc.,  etc.  AVhen  you  write  to 
her.  As  long  as  she  loves  you,  she  possesses  every  merit 
and  virtue  in  my  eyes.  And  now,  my  dearest  love,  forgive 
anything  that  I  am  about  to  say  which  offends  you.  Dur- 
ing all  the  time  I  have  known  you,  I  have  but  twice  had 
occasion  to  find  fault  with  you. 

I  believe  that  on  those  occasions  I  expressed  myself 
neither  superciliously  nor  harshly,  certainly  without  any  of 
that  attempt  at  irony  and  bitterness  which  has  character- 
ized your  replies.  Those  two  occasions  you  have  made 
crimes  on  my  pare,  and  resented  in  such  a  manner  as 
almost  to  occasion  a  final  separation  between  us.  Forgive 
me,  I  again  beseech  you,  my  dearest,  dearest  love,  if  I  recur 
to  subjects  so  ungrateful — I  only  do  so  with  a  view  to  pre- 
vent their  repetition.  I  will  owe  to  you,  Rose,  that  I  was, 
that  I  am  unreasonable  enough  still  to  be  exceedingly  hurt 
at  the  severity  of  the  note  you  intended  to  send  me  in 
answer  to  my  observations  about  my  Mother — had  not  a 
more  accident  induced  you  to  soften  it.  I  am  grieved, 
d  arest,  more  than  I  can  express,  to  think  I  owe  the 
redeeming  kindness  of  a  note  which  accompanied  it,  to  tho 
mere  fictitious  and  temporary  interest  of  illness.  My  own 
dear  girl,  if  I  may  now  tell  you  what  I  wish  altered  in  you 


1 66  Lord  Lyttons  Letters. 

it  is  your  joriWe.  I  am  perfectly  convinced  that  if  anything 
will  hereafter  interrupt  or  even  destroy  the  happiness  we 
ought  to  enjoy,  it  will  arise  first  or  last  from  that  cause, 
an  1  this  is  the  only  consideration  which  makes  me  wish  any- 
thing altered  in  you.  I  have  often  tcld  you,  my  own  darl- 
ing, that  as  long  as  I  could  make  you  happy  I  should  be 
entirely  so  myself  :  When  I  have  said  this,  I  have  felt  it 
from  my  very  hearr,. 

Till  very  lately  I  always  hoped  that  I  could  make  you 
liappy — if  now,  dearest,  I  donbt  it,  it  is  both  from  a  knowl- 
edge of  my  own  faults  and  a  discovery,  I  will  not  say  of  a 
fault  in  you,  but  of  a  proud  and  resentful  principle  in  your 
mind,  which  does  in  my  opinion  detract  from  its  perfec- 
tion. I  know  that  I  am  fastidious  to  a  great  degree  with 
regard  to  the  conduct  of  those  I  love — both  as  regards 
others  and  myself  ;  and  I  know  therefore  that  if  any 
expression  of  blame  or  anger  on  my  pait  is  to  be  met  by  a 
double  expression  of  resentment  on  yours,  there  can  be  no 
other  result  than  present  dissensions  and  future  alienation. 
This  I  feel  the  more  strongly  because  1  should  not  conceive 
such  behaviour  on  your  part  a  mere  ebullition  of  passion 
only,  but  a  want  of  love — a  want  of  that  woman's  love, 
which  I  have  always  pictured  to  myself  as  the  most  really 
and  deeply  felt,  which  finds  no  humiliation  in  yielding  and 
no  anger  in  concession.  The  latter,  for  instance,  which 
called  forth  so  bitter  a  reply  either  offended  you  because  it 
shewed  that  I  myself  was  offended,  or  because  the  expres- 
sions contained  in  it  were  cold  or  harsh,  or  rude  enough  to 
give  you  cause  for  being  the  first  to  be  offended.  In  the 
first  case,  my  dearest  love,  you  must  be  aware  that  if  feel- 
ings offended  (whether  Justly  or  not,  matters  little)  are  not 
to  be  soothed,  but  irritated — there  can  be  no  cessation  to 
anger  once  conceived,  and  a  breach  that  would  otherwise 
have  been  momentary  is  easily  converted  (as  our's  was 
nearly)  into  a  permanent  rupture.     If  my  own  proud  Poo- 


Lord  Lyttoits  Letters.  167 

die  had  been  less  proud,  she  would  not  have  disdained  to 
remember  liow  a  soft  answer  tnrneth  away  wrath  ; — in  the 
second  ca?e,  if  my  letter  affronted  you  solely  in  itself,  there 
was  surely  a  milder  method  of  expressing  it  than  by  a  let- 
ter written  from  beginning  to  end  with  an  evident  design 
to  wound  and  irritate.  No  woman  at  any  period  of  love 
ever  gained  by  irony.  Had  I  been  offended  by  you,  I 
should  not  have  sate  down  immediately  to  write  a  letter 
which  could  only  terminate  in  an  ultimate  "  hreak " 
between  us.  Such  small  causes  do  not  deserve  such  terri- 
ble effects.  I  could  not  have  punished  myself  so.  -Do  not 
think,  my  dearest  love,  that  I  show  only  masculine  assump- 
tion of  superioi-ity  by  saying  that  it  would,  however,  have 
been  far  more  excusable  in  me.  No  attachment  can  be 
permanent  where  the  woman  does  not  make  greater  con- 
cessions than  the  man,  and  does  not  even  feel  that  those 
concessions  are  the  most  real  sources  of  pride. 

I  shall  be  very,  very  sorry  if  what  I  have  now  said  makes 
you  angry  with  me.  I  shall  be  still  more  so,  if  you  do  not 
think  there  is  any  truth  or  justice  in  the  remarks.  I  do 
not  think  it  likely  I  shall  ever  again  before  our  marriage 
express  any  resentment  I  may  myself  feel  at  any  uninten- 
tional affront  from  you,  or  blame  you  on  the  other  hand 
for  any  part  of  your  own  conduct  ;  if  I  have  done  so  now, 
it  is  only  to  prevent  any  subject  of  disagreeable  discussion, 
still  less  of  dissension  after  marriage,  and  to  promote  the 
most  fervent  and  unceasing  desire  my  heart  ever  conceived 
to  make  you  hajipy. 

Canning  is  supposed  to  be  in  some  danger.  His  death 
would  create  an  amazing  change,  and  open  a  great  oppor- 
tunity for  ambition  in  the  House.  Mrs.  Hunter  is  here, 
without  her  brother.  I  shall  endeavour  to  call  to-day  or 
to-morrow. 

Zoo  will  be  sorry  to  hear  Lady  is  left  in  London,  and 
that  she  looked  as  thin  as  Puppy  when  he  last  saw  her. 


1 68  Lord  Lyt toils   Letters. 

Ah,  dearest  !  liow  restless  I  am  when  I  am  alone,  for  then 
I  do  indeed  think  of  you — would  that  I  could  lay  my  head 
with  the  brown  cap  upon  that  spot  which  is  moi-e  of 
Heaven  than  my  most  boyish  fanaticism  ever  dreamed  of 
that  above.  I  do  not  think,  when  we  meet  agiiin,  that  I 
shall  ever  bear  to  part  witli  you  ;  my  lips  will  grow  to  you. 
Every  day  makes  me  lung  more  and  more  for  that  which 
will  be  to  me  (will  it  not,  dearest,  be  to  Ijotli  of  us)  an 
entrance  into  a  now  life.  I  often  wish  we  could  condense 
our  existence  into  one  long,  long  embrace.  Ah,  dearest, 
never,  never  let  us  lose  or  fritter  away  one  moment  of  that 
happiness  which  two  beings  who  love  like  us  should  com- 
mand !  Do  you  know  that  if  I  could  convert  myself  for 
the  next  week  into  air\  would  ?  I  would  fly  to  your  lips, 
and  there  kiss  myself  into  fragrance,  and  I  would  almost 
ask  to  die  (where,  darling,  1  have  in  some  measure  died 
before)  upon  the  bosom  where  T  would  sigh  forth  all  my 
soul. 

Oh,  how  my  head  burns,  and  my  heart  beats  as  I  write 
this  !  What  are  you,  my  angel,  that  you  can  inspire  such 
a  passion  ?  Nothing  merely  earthly  could  be  so  loved  as 
you  are.  Keep  yourself  well  ;  do  not  stay  too  long  at  Miss 
Kenrick's  ;  nurse  your  neck  ;  do  not  neglect  the  smallest 
thing  connected  with  your  health  ;  and  remember  how 
utterly  and  eternally  I  am  yours. 

P . 

Will  you  send  me  the  verses  to  you  under  the  name  of 
"Ina"  which  I  wrote  in  your  album. 


Loi'd  Lyttons  Letters.  169 


XCI. 

To  Miss  Rosi^ta  "Wheeler,  40,  Somerset  Street,  Portman 
Square,  London. 

[Alterations  ia  "Falkland." — "Mortimer."] 

Brighton,  Feb.  Uth,  1827. 

Thank  you,  my  dearest  love,  for  your  letter  ;  I  wish, 
darling,  I  were  with  you  to  kiss  you  for  it.  I  think  I 
would  sacrifice  a  year  for  each  minute  to  be  one  quarter  of 
an  hour  with  00  now.  Tell  me,  my  beautiful  Rose,  any 
part  of  00  face  and  necl:  that  mo  would  not  kiss.  That 
love  of  a  dimple  that  you  say  I  have  not  done  justice  to — 
would  I  not  repay  it  for  my  neglect  ?  0  zoo  darling — is  00 
a  darling  ?  [marks  of  kisses].  How  like  my  own  dear  and 
noble  Rose  to  send  the  money  to  Miss  Richardson  which  I 
know  so  well  00  must  have  wanted  00  self  !  but  00  must 
not,  darling,  do  that  again  till  00  has  Puppy's  money,  and 
then  00  shall  spend  that  as  00  likes  ;  and  so,  tlio'  I  send  00 
twenty  thousand  kisses  for  it,  I  think  I  must  also  send  00 
one  bite.  Mind,  my  own  darling  of  darling,  that  you  tell 
me  2Jci7'ticularli/  in  your  next  how  you  are,  and  all  things 
respecting  you  ;  but  this  I  must  hear  from  your  own  pretty 
lips  when  I  come  to  London.  I  shall  leave  here  on  Friday, 
so  that  you  must  not  write  after  to-morrow  and  I  must  see 
you  in  the  beginning  of  the  week.  Has  our  long  eternal 
absence  made  me  less  dear,  darling  ?  or  will  my  kisses  bo 
colder  ? 

I  fear  "  Falkland "  will  not  be  finished  before  this 
day  week — I  want  to  throw  the  greater  part  into  narrative 
and  to  alter  the  catastrophe  with  regard  to  Emily  very 
materially.  Part  of  what  I  have  got  done  I  am  satisfied 
with  ;  but  I  shall  have  much  to  write  entirely  again.     Poor 


I/O  Lord  Lyttoiis  Letter's. 

Mr.  "  Mortimer"  has  for  once  found  his  proper  level,  and 
is  quietly  laid  on  the  shelf. 

I  hiive  not  seen  Mrs,  Hunter  yet.  Perhaps  I  may  to- 
night, for  I  am  going  to  a  small  party  ;  but  I  know  I  shall 
return  to  Poodle  with  a  double  conviction  of  her  superlative 
merits  and  beauties.  Seriously  tho'  when  I  went  out  the 
other  evening  and  saw  one  called  pretty,  and  talked  with 
another  thought  clever,  I  shrank  back  into  the  temple  I 
had  erected  in  my  own  heart  with  an  indescribable  and  joy- 
ous impression  of  the  superiority  of  the  one  Diety  I  had 
enshrined  there.  I  still  continue  better,  but  am  not  exact- 
ly well  yet.  I  dare  say  I  shall  only  stay  a  week  in  Town  on 
my  return,  just  to  see  my  own  darling  iind  arrange  our  plans 
with  her.  For  God's  sake,  my  dear,  dear,  most  dear  Kose, 
keep  up  your  siiirits,  and  remember  how  your  own  angel 
conduct  has  endeared  you  to  me;  for  if  ever  there  was  a 
Spirit  of  Love  upon  earth  it  is  you. 

God  bless  oo  my  dearest,  dearest  love  and  life. 
Your  own  Adorer, 

P Y. 

XCII. 

To  Miss  Rosina  Wheeler,  4  Somerset  Street,  Portmau 
Square,  London. 

[Returning.— Delight  to  meet  again. — ]\Iiss  Gibbings,  Ibe  heiress.] 

Brigliton,  Feb.  15th,  1827. 

Yes,  dearest,  I  will  write  to  you  every  day  during  my 
stay  here,  but  there,  like  the  oracle's,  my  promts  is  some- 
what perfidious  ;  for  to-morrow  I  shall  be  on  the  road,  and 
shall  not  reach  my  quarters  for  the  evening  till  after  Post 
time,  so  that  the  letter  which  makes  you  the  })romis  also 
discharges  it.  I  am  so  impatient  to  see  you  again.  Do, 
darling,  let  me  find  a  letter  at  Thomson's  to  say  what  day 
I  can  have  that  happiness — Tuesday  perhaps  at  farthest  ? 
What   volumes  we  shall   have   to  say,  and   yd   my   own 


Lord  Lyttons  Letters,  171 

darling,  I  think  we  can  find  better  employment  for  our 
lips  than  to  say  anything  ?  As  for  me,  I  think  I  shall  be 
too  overjoyed  to  kiss  00  even  ;  I  shall  wait  my  angel,  my 
Poodle,  till  the  first  kiss  from  00  own  self  has  restored  me 
to  life.  For  the  first  minute  of  meeting  you  will  not  be 
life — at  least  not  waking  life  ;  it  will  be  a  dream,  a  trans- 
l)ort,  a  chaos  of  feeling  that  has  nothing  to  do  with  ordi- 
nary objects  of  existence.  Suppose,  my  most  beautiful 
Eose,  that  we  were  now  together  in  the  same  kennel,  in 
each  other's  arms — what  should  I  do  ?  Ah  !  I  dare  not 
think  !  for  the  thought  of  you  is  a  fever  that  burns  like 
liquid  fire  within  me.  When,  my  own  Eoso,  shall  I 
quench  it  in  your  kisses  ?  My  life,  my  love,  my  soul,  do  I 
doat  on  you  or  do  I  rave  when  I  would  tell  you  what  I 
feel  ?  Well  said  Virgil  "  there  is  no  madness  like  pas- 
sion." 

And  so  my  pretty  Poodle,  I  am  to  get  you  a  Blenheim 
spaniel  ? 

Is  it  to  be  one  of  my  own  Pups  ?  I  fully  commiserate 
with  you  in  your  indignant  and  aggrieved  feelings  at  the 
profanation  of  00  name — /  too  have  had  my  nerves  woe- 
fully attacked.  A  certain  youth  praising  a  cook  that 
belonged  to  the  Life  Guards'  mess  said,  ''And  he  is  so 
d — d  good  at  a  pinch  too  ;  he  made  us  some  famous  soup 
once,  out  of  a  little  parsley  and  a  Pu})py's  leg."  Fancy 
Puppy's  leg,  independent  of  the  white  adorables,  served 
up  ;  but  us,  you  can't  fancy  it — the  thought  is  too  horrid  ! 

I  have  not  seen  poor  Mrs.   Hunter.     I  hear  that  the 

elopement  of  the  Baroness  E has  made  a  great  sensation 

against  her,  for  they  were  perfectly  inseparable.  I  went  to 
"I  parties  last  night  ;  at  one  given  by  Miss  Cibbings,  the 
heiress,  that  young  lady  delighted  us  with  her  knowledge 
of  6  languages,  her  skill  in  drawing,  her  knowledge  of 
music  and  her  science  in  chemistry  !  I  would  as  soon 
marry  *' The  Public  Advertiser  "  as  an  Exhibitor  of  that 


172  Lord  Lyttons   Letters. 

sort  in  spite  of   the  £80,000,     My  health   is  much,  very 
much  improved. 

Pray,  pray,  darling,  take  care  of  00  own  self,  and  let 
mo  know  exactly  how  you  are,  and  when  we  shall  meet,  and 
let  me  have  your  letter  at  Thomson's  on  Saturday — 200,000 
\))iarlcs  of  ldsses\.  I  only  wish,  my  dearest  love,  that  we 
could  make  a  thermometer  of  affection.  I  wish  yon  could 
see  the  degree  of  mine,  I  do  so  adore  you  ! 

XCIII. 
[His  mother  111. — Not  asked  for  money.] 

"Well,  my  pretty  Poodle, — In  the  first  place,  when  I 
came  down  this  morning,  1  found  your  letter,  which  I  read 
twice  over  before  I  began  to  gnaw  my  bone,  and  then  I 
commenced  that  darling  little  book  with  my  second  saucer 
of  milk.  I  was  so  rejoiced  when  I  came  to  a  line  about 
Poodle,  tliat  I  got  np  and  wagged  my  tail  for  twenty-two 
minutes  and  one  second — the  line  was  : 

"Bright  Coenis  whose  eyes  so  refulgently  shine." 

It  was  very  pretty  and  nice  in  the  poet  to  call  Poodle 
Coenis  or  the  dog-star  !  I  have  at  home  in  my  great  kennel 
at  Knebworth  a  whole  collection  of  those  productions  of 
genius,  "Mother  Hubbard  and  her  dog" — "Butterfly's 
ball,"  "  Grasshopper's  Feast,"  ct/wi  multis  aliis  ;  which  I 
will  give  you  for  your  own  library  when  you  become  Mrs. 
Pupi)y — only  you  must  not  dog-ear  them,  1  will  bring  the 
only  thing  whose  ears  are  to  be  dogged. 

So  after  I  had  read  this,  I  followed  Bacon's  advive  (all 
puppies  like  Bacon)  of  thinking  after  study,  and  I  began 
a  very  morbid  and  melancholy  meditation  upon  your  tooth- 
ache, with  various  recollections  of  the  the  past  when  I  kissed 
it  away,  and  of  the  future  when  I  should  again  have  that 
happiness.     This  by-the-bye,  brought  on  a  train  of  verj 


Lord  Lyttons  Letters.  i  *]t^ 

subtle  and  searching  enquiries  as  to  your  not  being  pleased 
ai  a  certain  amusement  which  gives  Puppy  so  much  pleasure. 
And  then,  thinking  such  reflections  were  dangerous,  I 
curled  up  my  tail  and  set  off  to  Dog  Kenrick's  ;  I  went  in 
and  found  Mrs,  Atkinson  on  the  staircase,  and  her  picture 
in  the  drawing-room.  I  then  talked  of  })rofiles  and  poetry 
to  Miss  Kenrick,  which  introduced  Miss  Landon — Olympia 
— and  your  picture.  In  the  first  place,  that  picture  is  to  be 
mine  the  roomejit  it  comes  from  the  Exhibition.  I  bought 
it  very  cheap.  Secondly,  I  think  it  very  beautiful.  Third- 
ly, ]  do  not,  upon  my  honour,  think  it  lialf  so  handsome 
as  you  ;  tlie  features  are  too  large,  the  face  too  long,  the 
dimple  omitted,  the  expression  not  near  so  brilliant  nor  so 
spirituelle  as  yours.  1  do  not  think  it  very  like,  either  ; 
and  I  must  now,  my  dearest  love,  beseech  you  to  let  me  have 
another  small  one,  and  to  sit  for  it  immediately.  I  have 
told  Miss  Kenrick  that  I  will  purchase  it,  if  she  can 
persuade  you  to  have  it  drawn  ;  and  so  i^ray,  my  dearest, 
dearest  love,  do  have  it  done  directly  :  as  a  bribe  I  will 
send  you  mine  on  the  very  day  I  receive  yours.  Let  me, 
my  most  faultless  beauty,  consider  this  as  settled. 

So  then.  Puppy,  after  having  talked  about  pictures 
etc.,  for  some  time,  trotted  home  and  found  two  proofs  of 
"Falkland,"  which  he  corrected,  and  then  got  upon  a 
great  big  horse,  and  went  to  see  after  his  relations  of  Blen- 
heim. Not  being  able  to  find  any  to  his  taste,  he  was  very 
much  disconcerted  and  slunk  home  to  his  mama  in  Sey- 
mour street.  Her  he  found  aiflicted  with  rheumatism, 
and  did  not  therefore  think  it  advisable  to  apply  for  the 
money ;  but  Poodle  shall  hear  more  on  tliat  subject 
to-morrow.  While  he  was  there,  a  letter  came  from  Miss 
Richardson  ;  me  encloses  it.  She  is  the  plague  of  my  life, 
quite  "  my  distemper."  And  now  my  dearest,  I  returned, 
and  at  this  moment  am  scribbling  this  to  oo.  I  do  not 
think  Mr.  Campbell's  verses  good,  and  I  dislike  the  last 


I  74  Lord  Lyttons   Lcttei's. 

verse  which  you  like  worse  than  any.  Do,  dearest,  seud 
me  those  verses  you  promised.  Write  me  early  to-morrow, 
my  beauty.  20,000  \]ci88es\.  I  have  written  about 
another  kennel  this  very  moruing.  I  am  nov/  going  out 
to  dine  with  Villers.  Perhaps  I  may  go  to  Lady  London- 
derry's in  the  evening  ;  but  it  depends  upon  whether  my 
brother  does — if  not,  I  don't  think  I  shall.  However, 
zoo'll  hear  from  me  to-morrow,  and  in  the  meanwhile  oo 
sail  have  my  heart  and  my  soul,  my  life,  my  darling. 

Zoo  OwK  Puppy. 
Not  pleased  at — .     0  fie,  Poodle,  fie  ! 

XCIV. 

To  Miss  "Wheeler,  Somerset  Street. 
[Villiers. — Napoleon.] 

Thursday,  3  o'clock. 

Pray  forgive  me,  my  darling  Eose,  for  not  having  writ- 
ten to  you  before.  I  have  been  changing  my  abode  to 
Mivart's,  Brook  St.,  where  you  must  in  future  direct  to 
me.  Add  to  this,  I  have  been  pressed  by  three  messages 
from  Colburn  to  return  a  sheet  which  I  still  have  still  in 
my  possession  and  cannot  for  the  life  of  me  alter,  the' 
altered  it  must  be. 

My  own  poor  dear  love,  I  am  so  very,  very  sorry  for 
you  ;  I  know  it  was  all  my  own  fault  in  dragging  you  out 
on  Tuesday.  You  shall  not  come  out  now  till  you  are 
quite.  Quite  well.  Pray  take  the  greatest  care  of  yourself 
and  stay  in  bed. 

Does  00  think,  my  own  darling,  seriously  and  truly  that 
if  00  did  really  look  less  adorable,  your  own  true  Puppy 
could  perceive  it  ?  No  !  he  would  only  think  it  a  change 
in  00  beautiful  Kaleidoscope  of  a  face,  which  cannot  admit 
of  any  variation  less  than  divine.  Keep  its  jjoor  dear  cheek 
(oh,  how  Puppy  longs  to  lick  it  !)  in  as  equal  a  temperature 


Lord  Lyttoiis   Letters.  175 

as  possible.  Pr;iy  got  well  as  soon  as  possible,  in  order  to 
liHve  your  picture  taken.  I  am  so  impatient  to  have  it. 
Kemember  my  promis  of  exchange.  "  Vain  Puppy  !"  You 
must  not  write  if  it  hurts  your  arm,  that  beautiful  arm — at 
least  only  one  line,  and  that  shall  be  to-night  when  I  shall 
send  you  another  letter,  in  order  to  hear  how  you  are. 
And  so  my  own  Poodle  wants  to  know  what  Puppy  did 
yesterday  ?  Why,  after  he  wrote  to  Poodle  he  Jumped  into 
a  hackney  coach  with  his  great  big  brother  and  was  taken 
to  Lincolu's  Inn  :  there  he  found  Dog  Villiers,  and  soon 
after  Dog  Napoleon  came — quite  a  family  party.  Then 
several  dishes  of  bones,  etc.,  were  set  before  them,  and 
Puppy  munched,  but  without  any  appetite,  for  he  thought 
of  the  snug  scraps  he  had  purloined  in  company  with 
Poodle,  and  so  he  sat  and  neither  barked  no  devoured  a 
lOth  part  as  much  as  he  is  wont  to  do — only  once  he  growled 
at  his  big  brother  about  Politics,  Puppy  being  a  very 
Seditious,  discontented  dog  whenever  he  is  "  down  at  the 
mouth."  Then  after  their  bones  all  the  4  dogs  sat  down 
to  whist,  and  Puppy  lost ;  upon  which  he  slunk  his  tail  and 
trotted  home,  intending  to  dress  for  Dog  Londonderry's 
party  ;  but  when  he  got  home,  he  laid  down  on  the  sofa 
and  went  to  sleep  ;  and  when  he  woke,  he  crept  to  his  inner 
kennel  and  tossed  about  and  thought  of  Poodle  ;  and  then 
he  saw  "eyes  refulgently  shining"  and  rosy  lips  and  a 
beautiful  black  curly  tail  ;  and  then  he  took  to  wondering 
for  the  100th  time  what  Poodle  ment  when  she  said  she 
only  felt  ''odd  not  pleased,"  and  he  said  Poodle's  a  fool ; 
aiid  then  ho  grew  into  a  great  rage  and  fell  asleep  out  of 
spite.  He  woke  with  a  great  pain  in  his  head,  and  then  he 
read  Poodle's  letter,  and  was  glad  he  had  pain,  because  it 
sympathised  with  her. 

Do,  do  my  own  dear  love,  be  as  prudent  as  you  can.  I 
can't  bear  to  think  of  your  being  ill,  and  I  not  with  you. 
O  darling  !  I  send  you  a  dear  little  full-length  statue  of 


1 76  Lord  Lyttons  Lettc7's. 

Puppy  with  his  curl  at  his  tail,  which  I  stole  from  dog 
Villiers  yesterday.  Unhappily  I  was  caught  in  the  fact  and 
forced,  not  to  restore — for  that  I  would  not — but  exchange 
for  something  else,  which  I  was  loath  enough  to  do.  How- 
ever, I  was  so  pleased  to  get  so  capital  a  likeness — curl  and 
all — that  I  thought  I  could  not  pay  too  dear  for  it.  I  send 
you  a  letter  I  received  in  answer  to  the  application  about 
the  kennel  T  spoke  of  yesterday.  Pretty  and  i)ithy  ;  is  it 
not,  darling  ?  £100  a  year,  unfurnished,  besides  a  thousand 
pounds. 

\ycll,  Rosey,  I  must  wish  you  good-hye  now,  tho'  I 
shall  write  again  in  the  evening ;  but  pray  my  dearest, 
dearest  love,  remember  that  my  life,  licalth,  happiness  are 
Avrapt  up  in  you.  I  write  this  at  the  Athenseum,  where  I 
have  flown  for  safty  from  innumerous  duns.  I  am  going 
now  to  leave  it  myself.  I  send  you,  my  dearest  love,  a 
thousand  kisses.  Return  them  with  all  legal  interest 
when  we  meet. 

P Y. 

xcv. 

To  Miss  Rose  Wheeler. 

•  [R.  O.  S.  E.— Arch  quack  of  tale-writing,  Walter  Scott.] 

Mivarfs  Hotel,  Brooh  Street. 
My  Dearest  Rose,  which  name  I  think  (pray  forgivfc 
me)  prettier  even  than  "  Poodle  " — Aye  zoo  may  pout  but 
I  really  do,  Mrs.  Pnppy-that-is-to-be  !  Rose  !  Oh  beautiful 
name  !  it  breathes  on  me  like  spring-flowers,  sunshine, 
fragrance,  all  embodied  in  one  dear  word  !  R.  for  Rapture 
according  to  my  idea;  0.  for  "odd,"  according  to  yours ; 
S.  for  Silly  in  you  to  think  so  ;  and  E.  for  Enchanted, 
which  you  shall  be,  by-and-bye,  when  you  are  Mrs.  Pnp})y. 
How  did  darling  Poodle  like  my  statue  ?  Was  it  not  too 
like  me  ?  Will  it  not  instead  of  a  stupid  miniature  ?  Pray 
say,  ray  own  darling,  how  00  is,  but  that  I  know  00  has 


Lord  Lyttons   Letters.  177 

done  in  00  letter  which  my  servant  will  have  in  return  for 
this.  After  Puppy  left  his  last  one — by-the-bye  when  he 
knocked  at  00  kennel  he  saw  a  little  fat  black  terrier  who 
growled  at  him,  which  frightened  poor  Puppy  very  mucli — 
what  did  it  there  ?  me  is  very  jealous  ! — well,  to  return ; 
after  Puppy  had  knocked  at  00  door  and  given  his  letter 
to  a  very  pretty  little  dog  (female  dog)  who  opened  it,  he 
bolted  off  to  the  stables,  and  then  he  run  with  the  horses 
in  the  Park  for  some  time,  and  then  he  went  to  see  his 
mother  dog  in  Seymour  St.,  and  then  he  growled  and 
barked  with  her  for  about  an  hour,  and  he  got  a  promis  to 
have  a  great  big  sum  of  money  in  a  day  or  two,  and  then 
he  will  change  Poodle's  large  penny,  and  she  shall  have  a 
new  collar. 

I  am  very,  very  anxious  to  hear  from  you,  my  own 
Eosey  ;  so  pray  let  the  report  be  favourable,  which  cannot 
be  unless  you  take  care  of  yourself  ;  so  pray,  my  darling, 
nurse  00  own  pretty  cheek,  that  I  may  kiss  it  on  Saturday. 

I  am  going  to  finish  the  alterations  in  "Falkland'^ 
to-night,  and  the  Preface — I  hope  will  certainly  be  out  by 
Tuesday  or  Wednesday.  If  I  have  improved  it,  it  is  very 
meretriciously  quacked  up  with  a  Plot  and  a  Ghost,  and  a 
description  like  that  Arch-Quack  of  tale-writing  Walter 
Scott,  to  whom  I  pray  night  and  morning  that  I  may  see 
justice  done  before  I  die.  By  the  way,  my  own  beautiful 
and  bright-eyed  Poodle  must  have  seen  the  curious  but 
complimentary  notice  on  ''Dame  Rebecca  Berry  "in  the 
Morninfj  Post.  So  me's  in  a  new  kennel  which  me  likes- 
very  much. 

Peince  Puppy. 


178  Lord  Lyttons  Letters. 


XCVI. 

To  Miss  Wheeler,  40,  Somerset  Street. 
[Her  Statue. — Went  to  liis  mother.] 

My  Own  Darling  Poodle, — I  beg  yon  ten  million  pardons 
for  having  kept  00  waiting  for  my  communication  last  night, 
and  then,  my  own  love,  for  having  made  it  so  concise.  I 
had  hoped  to  have  written  to  you  in  the  evening  a  long 
reply  to  your  beautiful  letter,  but  v/e  did  not  sit  down  to 
dinner  till  after  8.  I  rose  this  morning  very  unwell,  tho' 
I  can  safely  assert  my  freedom  from  all  y  ester  a' en  excesses. 
I  then  found  00  pretty  note  and  00  darling,  darling  statue. 
What  a  love  zoo  is  for  sending  it !  How  very,  very  often 
I  have  kissed  it  !  Such  dear  little  eyes,  tho'  not  a  bit  like 
Poodle's  large  love-lighted  ocean  of  an  eye,  and  such  dear 
long  ears,  tho'  they  are  white  instead  of  black  ;  but  then 
such  great  club  feet  !  Oh  how  unlike  Poodle's  !  However 
my  prettiest  of  the  pretty,  it  lias  a  certain  likeness,  and  me 
looks  at  it  every  hour.  I  am  so  delighted  with  it.  Well, 
love,  when  I  had  sufficiently  admired  it,  I  dressed  myself 
and  went  out  in  a  great  cabriolet ;  then  I  saw  William,  and 
he  dines  with  y^  Dog  Gascoignes  to-day  ;  from  thence  Puppy 
went  to  his  Mother  in  Seymour  St.,  when  he  had  a  long  dis- 
pute about  the  Church  Missionarv  Society,  and  he  is  now 
returned  very  faint  and  ill. 

Do,  my  own  Poodle,  write  to  me  a  long  kind  letter, 
tho'  I  know  my  darling  love,  that  I  do  not  deserve  it  for 
my  short  effusions  to  you,  but  I  really  am  unwell  to-night 
and  sick — sick  at  heart,  even  more  than  elsewhere.  How- 
ever, my  prettiest  of  Poodle's,  I  will  write  as  long  as  I  am 
able. 

As  to  Walter  Scott — but  no,  dearest  1  wont  differ  from 
yon  to-night.     What  00  says  about  it  is,  however,  bootifully 


■Lord  Lyttons   Letters.  179 

written  and  worthy  of  my  own  adorable  love,  who  is  certain- 
ly the  most  clever,  charming,  petty,  good,  noble  Poodle 
which  ever  existed.  Zoo  sail,  my  dear,  dear  girl,  have  a 
long  letter  to-morrow  :  Till  then,  Zoo  own. 

P Y. 

XCVII. 

To  Miss  Wheeler,  40,  Somerset  Street. 
[Wrestling  with  demons. — Believes  himself  mad  at  times. — Fever.] 

10  o'clock. 

No,  my  dearest  love,  I  should  not  have  told  yon  to 
write  a  kind  letter  to  me  ;  when  indeed,  were  your  letters 
otherwise?  I  hardly  knew  what  I  wrote,  for  I  was  very 
ill  and  went  to  bed  immediately  afterwards.  I  have  had  a 
wretched  night  and  am  now  very  feverish.  I  have,  how- 
ever, got  up,  and  have  been  better  since.  God  bless  you, 
my  angel  of  hope  and  comfort,  for  all  the  happiness  your 
love  brings  me  !  0,  never,  never  may  I  be  unworthy  of 
such  a  treasure  !  In  every  moment  of  wretchedness  one 
of  your  dear  and  kind  letters  is  sufficient  to  restore  me. 
AVould  indeed  that  you  were  with  me.  If  I  could  but  feel 
one  of  your  pure,  cool  kisses  upon  my  forehead,  it  would 
cease  to  burn  so.  What  misfortune  would  not  be  charmed 
away  by  a  single  glance  from  that  deep  and  beautiful  eye  ! 
you  asked  me  to  tell  you  what  vexed  me?  Alas  !  I  might 
answer  you  in  general  "  my  own  nature,"  for  I  am  so  often 
unhappy  from  the  habit  acquired  by  the  past  as  by  any 
apparent  misfortune  from  the  present.  Never  could  you 
conceive  the  moments  of  agony,  the  wrestling  of  the  Spirit 
with  Demons,  that  I  endure.  Never  has  any  human  eye 
beheld  me  in  those  moments,  never  even  shall  yours. 

I  would  not  for  worlds  be  seen  in  that  feebleness  and 
prostration  of  mind.  I  believe — firmly  believe — that  at 
those  times  I  am  mad.  Nobody  could  believe  all  that  I 
then  see,  hear,  feel ;  but  yesterday,  my  own  love,  I  was 


i8o  Lord  Lyttons  Letters. 

unhappy  from  a  more  palpable  cause,  and  which  I  would 
rather  tell  you  of  when  wo  meet ;  it  is  nothing,  however, 
of  any  consequence,  or  that  ouglit  to  make  you  uneasy. 

Yes,  love,  Y/illiam  is  happy  to  be  able  to  see  E.  G. 
openly,  and  not,  like  us,  to  meet  by  stealth  and  in  dark- 
ness ;  and  I  feel  bitterly,  my  dearest  Rose,  all  that  I  have 
and  do  cost  you  ;  but  at  least  we  love  each  other  better 
than  we  should  otherwise  have  done.  As  for  me,  I  cannot 
express  how  increased  in  its  degree  and  elevated  in  its 
nature  my  love  has  been  to  you,  since  I  knew  those  mines 
in  your  character,  which  the  superficial  routine  of  ordinary 
attachment  could  never  have  explored. 

I  am  to  see  a  Blenheim  Spaniel  to-day  at  12.  I  went 
everywhere  after  one  yesterday,  as  indeed  I  have  every  day 
I  have  been  out.  I  will  also  send  for  the  book  you  wish  to 
see,  and  let  you  have  it  in  the  evening,  when  I  will  write 
again.  (12  o'clock.)  The  D""  has  been  here;  he  says  my 
fever  is  much  better  than  last  night ;  but  that  my  pulse  is 
very  feeble.  Such  a  night  as  I  have  passed  might  well 
exhaust  me  ! 

Do,  my  dearest,  dearest  love,  keep  yourself  well,  and 
let  me  know  how  you  are.  If  you  wish  me  to  recover  soon, 
it  will  be  by  telling  me  you  are  well.  Your  pretty  statue 
is  in  high  beauty,  and  sends  its  love  to  mine.  I  am  wait- 
ing for  my  servant  to  take  this  to  you.  Do  not  say,  my 
Spirit  of  Love  and  Light,  that  your  beautiful  thoughts  bore 
me  ;  on  the  contrary,  they  are  all  that  brighten  the  dark- 
ness of  my  own.  Even  in  writing  to  you  I  have  become 
better  ;  my  head  is  grown  cool,  my  heart  beats  less  violently  ; 
the  Evil  Demon  within  me  is  at  rest.  If  love  has  such 
power  over  sin  and  sorrow,  can  he  be  less  than  a  God  ? 

Farewell,  my  star,  life  has  no  cloud  which  you  cannot 
smile  away — 2000  \Jcisses\, 

Your  own  own  Heart's  Friend,  no  less  than  your 
Beauty's  Idolator — but  that  phrase  is  cold,  and  I  mean  to 


Lord  Lyttoiis  Letters.  i8i 

gay  that  I  adore  you  as  an  angel,  as  much  as  I  doat  on  you 
as  a  woman. 

Puppy. 

I  will  send  back  to-morrow  Lady  C 's  handkerchief. 

Do  send  me  the  verses  you  promised  me  long  ago.  I  shall 
have  the  last  proof  of  "  Falkland  "  to-morrow  night. 

XCVIII. 

To  Miss  Wheeler,  Somerset  Street. 
[Lady  C 's  Letter. — Sending  Miss  Wheeler  a  Blenheim  Spaniel.] 

My  Dearest,  Dearest  Love, — Many  thanks  for  your 
pretty  letter.     I  am  perfectly  petrified  ;   firstly  because  I 

put  Lady  C 's   letter  in  the  fire  ;  secondly,  because  I 

have  just  received  a  letter  from  Mr.  Oilier,  wh  I  will  send 
you  in  the  evening — in  the  meantime  I  leave  you  in 
suspense  about  it,  knowing  that  that  state  is  most  agreeable 
to  your  mind.  "Alps  upon  Alps,  and  hills  on  hills 
arise." 

Good-bye  for  the  present,  darling.  Zoo  own  own 
Original  P y. 

P.  S. 1  am  very  much  better  to-day.     The  Blenheim 

is  just  come.  I  send  it  ;  say  if  you  like  it ;  I  fear  it  is  not 
pretty  enough.  Let  me  know  by  one  line  if  you  approve  of 
it — if  not  I  hope  to  get  another  to-morrow. 

Its  name  is  '*  Dash." 


1 82  Lord  Ly lions  Letters. 


XCIX. 

To  Miss  Wheeler. 
["  Falkland,"  proposed  for  making  it  longer. — Cut  off  Lis  whiskers.] 

My  Dearest  Love. — I  am  in  great  tribulation  owing  to 
the  enclosed  letter  from  Mr.  Oilier.*  I  shall  not — for  I 
cannot — comply  with  the  request  to  make  the  book  longer, 
— if  the  protraction  must  be,  it  must  be  in  the  middle,  not 
the  catastrophe. 

I  hope  iny  own  pretty  Poodle  continues  to  like  Puppy's 
re})resentative,  tho'  I  do  not  think  it  was  politic  to  send  it 
oo,  lest  00  should  like  it  better  !  or  rather  because  oo  will 
at  all  events  have  something  else  to  love,  which  will  sub- 
tract from  the  sum  due  to  THE  Puppy.  I  am  much 
better  tho'  I  look  so  ill.  I  don't  intend  oo  to  see  me  for 
the  next  month  0  Vanity  !  I  shall  hurry  down  to  the 
Country  and  hide  my  diminished  head,  diminished  in  all 
senses,  for  in  a  fit  of  extreme  despair,  I  this  morning  cut 
off — my  whishers  !    You  have  no  idea  how  hideous  1  am  ! 

*  This  letter  follows  hereupon. 

Mr  Ollier's  Letter  Respecting  "Falkland." 

JSeic  BurUiigton  St.,  Tuesday. 

Sir, — May  I  be  allowed  to  say  a  few  words  to  you  respecting  the 
Romance  of  your  friend.  "Falkland  "  is  now  printed,  and  makes 
onli/24:'2  pages  !  so  that  the  volume  will  be  too  thin  to  be  put  forth. 
It  has  moreover,  been  very  openl}'  printed  in  order  to  swell  it,  if  pos- 
sible, into  a  size  which  might  command  attention.  If  it  be  published 
in  its  present  state,  the  talent  and  eloquence  of  the  author  will  hardly 
have  a  fair  chance,  inasmuch  as  few  readers  will  think  the  work  of  suf- 
ficient importance  to  be  seriously  regarded.  Do  you  think  the  author, 
under  these  considerations,  would  add  anything  towards  the  latter 
part  of  the  composition  ? 

"  I  have  the  honour  to  be  Sir,  respectfully  yours, 

"  Charles  Ollier." 


Lord  Lytto7is  Letters.  183 

No  earthly  power  could  persuade  me  to  let  any  of  the 
Poodle  specie  see  me.  I  have  done  nothing  but  sigh  and 
groan  at  tlie  loss  all  day. 

I  am  so  sorry  that  I  burnt  Lady  C 's  letter — the 

fact  is  that  yours  the  same  day  contained  something  w*^ 
made  conflagration  prudent,  and  in  burning  the  one  I  burnt 
the  other.  On  reading  Ollier's  letter  again  I  think  it  most 
likely  that  "  Falkland  will  not  be  published  at  all.  I  think 
he  means  to  say  that. unless  I  do  lengthen  it,  he  won't  have 
it,  and  if  he  expresses  that  more  clearly,  or  the  least  unciv- 
illy, he  may  be  d — a  !  Indeed,  if  I  were  disposed  to 
lengthen  it,  I  could  not  by  more  than  20  pages,  and  less 
than  100  would  be  useless.  I  shall,  however,  have,  I  hope, 
a  fuller  explanation  of  this  in  the  evening,  and  will  let  you 
know  to-morrow.  By  Jupiter  Tonans,  if  that  d — d  fellow 
returns  my  book  after  having  bougiit  it,  I'll  turn  author  all 
my  life  to  spite  him.  Adieu,  my  darling,  who  is  the  only 
darling  who  thinks  Puj)py's  tricks  clever,  for  Puppy  seriously 
begins  to  think  himself  \Qvy  stupid.     Zoo  own  Idolater, 

P. 

Oh  !  if  you  could  but  see  how  ugly  I  look.  You  would 
never  become  Mrs.  Puppy. 

C. 

To  Miss  Wheeler,  40,  Somerset  Street. 

[Euquires  for  houses.— His  hope,  happiness  and  glory  cenlered  in 
her.— His  Mother  going  to  Kuebworth.— Wants  to  join  her  to 
expedite  their  suit.] 

OH  how  beautiful  your  verses  are  ;  they  are  like  your 
virtues — make  me  shed  tears  while  I  admire  them. 
My  dearest,  dearest  love,  but  a  little  while  longer  and  my 
whole  life  shall  repay  your  affection.  How  eagerly  I  long 
for  that  time  !  when  you  are  with  me  I  shall  be  well.     You 


184  Lord  Lyttons   Letters. 

are  my  sun,  and  it  is  only  in  you  absence  that  I  droop  and 
wither.  Ever  since  I  received  your  note  I  have  been  recov- 
ering. I  am  now  very  mucli  tetter  than  I  was  in  the 
morning,  and  hope  to-morrow  to  be  quite  well.  Ah, 
dearest,  it  is  not  too  great  a  temptation  to  offer  to  come 
here  ?  No,  my  angel,  you  must  nurse  your  own  darling 
self,  and  remember  how  much  dearer  every  moment  makes 
you  to  me,  and  what  increasing  care  you  ought  therefore 
to  pay  to  my  Wealth,  Hope,  Happiness,  Glory — centered 
and  accumulating  in  you. 

I  am  so  happy  that  you  like  Blenheim  ;  pray  have  no 
scruple  in  exchanging  him  if  he  disimprovcs,  tho'  that 
would  be  too  great  a  punishment  for  the  poor  animal.  To 
see  you,  is  to  see  the  Enchanted  Island  in  the  Chinese 
Tales — the  rest  of  life  is  only  one  great  and  corroding 
longing  to  see  you  again.  I  wish,  love,  that  I  could 
answer  your  verses  as  they  deserve — the  moment  I  am  well 
enough  I  will  at  least  pay  a  tithe  of  my  debt  to  you  in 
kind.  But  at  this  moment  I  should  have  no  mind,  or  even 
thought  if  you  were  not  for  ever  present  and  presiding 
over  both.  Zoo  must  wait  for  the  book  till  to-morrow, 
when  1  hope  to  go  for  it  myself,  for  I  do  not  much  like 
sending  my  servant  for  the  work  that  bears  so  sacred  a 
title.  It  is  sacrilege  in  anybody  to  have  aught  to  do  with 
love  except  us.  My  mother  has  been  here,  and  was  very 
kind  ;  she  goes  to  Knebworth  to-morrow.  I  shall  join  her 
soon,  for  I  want  to  expedite  our  suit.  I  have  received 
answers  respecting  the  houses  I  enquired  after  ;  none  will 
do,  dearest.  I  think  after  all  we  will  leave  these  cold  cli- 
mates for  those  bright  Heavens  which  shall  remind  us  of 
love,  if  ever  for  a  moment  we  forget  it.  I  do  not  think, 
love,  that  your  sighs  Avould  be  less  sweet  when  mingled 
with  the  fragrance  of  Italian  skies,  or  any  change  of  cli- 
mate could  change,  unless  it  ripened,  the  perfection  of  our 
passion.     Well,  darling,  I  must  now  bid  you  farewell.     Do 


Lord  Lyttons  Letters.  185 

keep  yourself  as  well  and  as  happy  as  you  can  until  you 
restore  my  health  and  constitute  my  hap])moss.  Tell  me 
when  you  will  be  able  to  sit  for  your  picture  :  I  so  long  to 
have  it.  If  all  my  words,  thoughts,  feelings,  emotions 
could  be  purified  from  every  thing  that  renders  them  now 
dark  and  sinful,  there  Avould  indeed  be  left  an  offering, 
not  worthy,  but  at  least  suitable,  of  the  Altar  on  wliich  I 
would  consecrate  them,  for  then  there  would  be  nothing 
left  but  love, — ardent,  devoted,  unceasing  (even  for  a 
moment)  for  you  alone,  which  makes  all  other  women 
odious,  all  other  feelings  insipid.  Rose,  my  life,  my  love, 
God  bless  and  reward  you.     Your  own 

P Y. 

My  servant  will  enquire  for  an  answer,  but  sh'i  you  have 
written  00  note  in  the  course  of  the  day,  zoo  need  not 
trouble  00  darling  self  now. 

CI. 

To  Miss  Wheelek. 
["Falkland." — Whole  expression  of  face  altered. — Not  fit  to  be  seen.] 

My  Dearest  Rosey, — Only  think  of  my  forgetting  the 
letter  from  Colburn  !  I  enclose  it  now.  I  have  answered 
it,  to  say  that  I  can  make  no  definite  reply  till  I  have  read 
the  whole  :  This  I  begged  him  to  send  me  immediately, 
and  this  he  has  not  yet  done.  I  am  so  very  much  grieved 
to  hear  you  are  ill.  My  poor  darling  !  and  to  think  I  made 
you  so  by  telling  you  of  ''Falkland's"  dilemma!  lam 
very  sorry.  My  dear  dear  life  and  love,  pray  forgive  00 
own  Puppy  and  get  well. 

I  am  in  perfect  paroxysm  of  rage  and  despair,  that  I 
cannot  come  to  Miss  Spence's  to-morrow  to  see  00  ;  really 
I  am  not  jit  to  be  seen — it  is  the  whole  expression  of  face 
w''  is  altered.  You  would  not  know  me  if  you  saw  me  ;  I 
really  cannot  put  your  love  to  so  severe  a  Proof.     It  would 


1 86  Lord  Lyttons  Letters. 

be  infidelity  to  what  I  was,  to  like  me  as  I  am  :  *'  "Was  there 
ever  such  a  coquet  as  Puppy  ?''  Well,  scold  as  oo  will,  me 
cannot  help  it. 

I  had  such  a  dream  last  night :  I  thought  the  Mother 
Dog  found  Puppy  &  Poodle  in  the  same  kennel,  and  that 
there  was  a  great  scone,  and  Puppy  said  they  were  privately 
married,  and  then  the  Dog  Mother  consented,  and  then 
they  all  went  to  a  Breakfast  Party,  and  some  great  he-dog 
took  Poodle's  chair,  and  Puppy  challenged  him,  and  they 
went  out  to  fight,  and  Poodle  followed  a  short  way,  and 
then  turned  back  with  another  Puj)py,  and  the  Puppy  went 
and  made  his  will,  and  then  instead  of  fighting,  he  woke. 

I  am  in  ^.desperate  passion  about ''  Falkland,"  desperate, 
and  cannot  write  to  oo  as  I  wish  till  it  is  all  settled.  Adieu, 
my  darling.  Love  to  Dash.  Pray,  pray  take  care  of  your- 
self, and  do  let  me  hear  you  are  better  in  y"  evening.  But 
above  all,  my  angel,  my  darling,  do,  I  implore  you,  keep  up 
your  spirits,  for  they  make  health.  Do  also,  dearest,  let 
me  have  your  picture  as  soon  as  you  can  ;  I  shall  find  it 
such  a  companion  and  comfort. 

Zoo  own 

P Y. 

I  shall  have  some  money  to-morrow,  I  hope. 

CII. 

To  Miss  AVheeler. 

[AVanting  to  see  him  without  his  ears. — Henry  reading  "  Falkland."] 

My  own  Prettiest  of  Poodles, — Zoo's  a  naughty  Dog  to 
want  to  see  Puppy  without  his  ears,  and  he  begs  as  a  very. 
Very  great  favour  that  Poodle  will  let  him  off,  and  not  ask 
a  request  which  it  will  really  pain  Puppy  to  obey.  How- 
ever if  you  will  cut  off  your  ears  too,  if  I  don't  go,  I  will 
endeavour  to  do  so  ;  but  I  again  beseech  you  not  to  press 
it. 


Lord  Lyttons  Letters,  187 

I  have  sent  for  the  "  Progress  of  Love,"  and  have  jnst 
got  it  I  will  send  it  to  you  to-morrow  ;  it  seems  very  stupid 
and  all  Abelard  and  Heloise.  My  dear,  dear  love,  how 
shall  I  thank  you  for  sending  me  y®  book  !  I  hope,  dearest, 
when  I  asked  you  for  it  before,  that  you  did  not  huy  it — 
tliat  idea  would  spoil  my  pleasure  in  reading  it. 

I  have  at  last  got  Ollicr's  answer  ;  he  explains  away  all  : 
*'A  suggestion  solely  for  my  consideration,  prompted  by 
the  merit  of  the  book  and  the  wish  that  it  should  have  a 
proportionate  sale  ;  of  course  I  will  do  what  I  please,^'  etc. 
I  shall  write  lil^e  a  Dragon  to-night,  and  really  will  try  and 
lengthen  it  if  jjossible.  I  am  not  however,  very  well,  nor 
shall  be  till  I  get  out  of  towu.  Henry  is  at  this  moment 
reading  "  Falkland  ;  "  he  says  that  no  woman  will  get  over 
the  6th  letter,  and  is  inclined  to  add  "no  more  after  the 
7th."  It  is  indeed  woefully  stupid,  but  we  shall  see — it 
may  or  may  not  take.  I  do,  darling,  hope  that  you  con- 
tinue to  like  Dash  ;  but  if  you  do  not  pray,  pray  tell  me 
and  me'U  change  him.  Puppy  is  the  great  Guy  of  War- 
wick among  Dogs,  and  can  make  or  unmake  favourites. 
Pray,  my  dearest  love,  take  care  of  yourself.  I  do  m,  so, 
SO  hope  your  head  is  better.  Let  me  hear  if  Poodle 
insists  upon  Puppy's  attendance  to-morrow. 

Zoo  own 

Puppy. 
CIIL 

To  Miss  Wheeler,  40,  Somerset  Street. 

[Still  mourning  for  bis  whiskers.] 

My  Dearest  Love, — I  am  too  sorry  for  your  head.  You 
must  keep  it  quiet  till  you  can  rest  it  upon  me,  and  then  I 
will  kiss  it  well.  ''  Did  you  feel  my  kiss  last  night  ?"  Yes, 
darling,  you  did,  for  I  felt  yours  all  the  long  night  and  feel 
theni  still  at  this  moment.  It  is  a  delicious  but  a  very 
slight  food,  is  it  not,  dearest,  those  memories  of  a  kiss  ? 


1 88         •        Lord  Lyttons   Letters. 

Does  00  til  ink  oo  should  like  to  renew  them  now  with  me  ? 
Ah  !  dearest,  how  happy  we  ought,  to  be  that  the  fountain 
they  spring  from  is  inexhaustible,  and  that  when  we  have 
kissed  for  a  thousand  days,  and  a  thousand  nights  too, 
darling,  we  shall  not  be  one  kiss  poorer  than  we  were 
before. 

Thank  oo  for  endeavouring  to  console  me  for  the  loss  of 
my  oars,  but  I  am  still  beyond  the  reach  of  even  your  con- 
solation. Like  Ruth,  I  mourn  for  my  children,  and, can- 
not be  comforted,  because  they  are  not.  0  ye  departed 
objects  of  uncasing  thought  and  unremitting  attention,  of 
daily  consideration  and  evening  revifal,  how  often  have  I 
curled  ye  into  beauty  and  anointed  ye  with  the  oil  of  glad- 
ness, even  above  your  fellows,  and  now,  now  where  are  ye  ! 

0  Glory  and  Vanity  of  this  world,  where  is  Rome  ?  where 
is  Babylon  ?  where  are  my  whiskers  ?  I  cannot  pursue  the 
mournful  theme  any  longer  ;  I  am  too,  too  wretched.  Ye 
woods,  be  my  sole  dwelling  place  ;  to  your  deepest  recesses 

1  fly  ;  I  will  hide  me  from  every  face,  I  will  vanish  from 
every  eye  !  Poor  Poodle,  Avhat  will  oo  do  till  Pujipy  appears 
again  in  the  haunts  of  Dogs,  regenerate  and  rewhiskered  ? 
By-the-bye,  Puppy  has  got  some  money,  and  he  sends 
Poodle  some  to  buy  her  a  new  collar  ;  to  be  repaid  in  kisses 
the  first  year  of  their  marriage.  Do  call  on  the  Gascoignes, 
and  try  and  "  sound.'^     W™  is  deeply  smitten. 

I  have  sent  a  great  part  of  the  addition  to  "  Falkland  " 
to  the  press  to-day.  I  shall  write  the  remainder  with  all 
due  expedition,  tho'  I  fear  it  will  not  be  finished  before 
Monday  morning,  for  every  addition  I  have  so  much  to 
subtract  and  to  refill,  so  that  to  add  30  pages  is  in  reality 
to  write  60.  The  book,  by-the-bye,  is  very  little  like  what 
you  saw  it,  yet  not  a  whit  more  interesting  :  It  is  like  the 
silk  stockings,  constantly  mended  till  they  ceased  to  be  silk 
and  become  cotton.  I  am  going  to  have  the  lawyers  with 
me  to-morrow.     What  a  bore  !    Yet  I  wish  to  see  if  we  can- 


Lord  Lyttoiis  Letters.        •         189 

not  add  to  our  income,  which  would  not  be  a  bore.  I  loug 
for  your  letter.  I  do  so  earnestly  hope  it  will  tell  me  00  is 
better,  and  that  00  is  looking  as  bootiful  as  ever.  0  zoo 
darling,  how  me  longs  to  kiss  00  ! 

0  00  own  earless 

Puppy. 
CIV. 

To  Miss  Wheeler,  40,  Somerset  Street. 

[Refused  all  things  to  weep  over  his  whiskers,  and  lengthen   "  Falk- 
land."] 

My  Dearest  Love,  My  Angel,  My  Life,  My  Adored  And 
Beautiful  liose, — I  send  you  a  thousand  kisses.  My  own 
pretty  Poodle,  00  must  not  kill  Puppy  with  too  much 
kindness,  because  if  00  kill  him,  00  knows  very  well  that 
GO  cannot  kiss  him,  which  would  be  a  thousand  pities. 
Me  thinks  that  00  lips  and  Puppy's  were  made  for  one 
another ;  certainly  mine  and  Poodle's  were.  How  pretty 
we  sail  look,  darling,  growing  together,  two  dogs  on  one 
stalk  and  cementing  our  union  by  the  li})S  !  We  will 
weave  such  pretty  chains  of  kisses,  will  we  not,  dearest  ? 
My  own  wife,  zoo  must  not  refuse  00  pin  money — 00  were 
saying  00  wanted  some,  and  me  was  so  wretched  till  me 
got  this  for  00,  and  so  00  must  not  refuse  it  now.  Poodle. 
Zoo  will  be  sure  to  require  it,  and  00  sail  pay  me  when  you 
are  Mr^  Puppy.  I  am  so  bored  about  "  Falkland  ;'*  I  have 
got  a  world  to  write,  and  it  is  so  against  the  grain  that  I 
never  can  do  above  a  })agc  at  a  time.  Yet  I  am  dying  to 
leave  London,  for  my  health  is  like  a  shy  horse,  running 
away  in  these  crowded  streets,  tho'  it  would  be  quiet 
enough  in  the  country. 

I  long  to  heiir  what  00  has  done  about  the  Gascoignes, 
and  I  shall  not  be  easy,  my  prettiest  of  Poodles,  till  I  hear 
00  suffered  a  false  alarm  from  Mrs.  Somebody  in  Portman 
Sq'*^-     Henry  and  I  are  holding  out  here  very  amiably,  and 


190        •         Lord  Lyttons   Letters. 

agreeing  much  more  lovingly  than  I  could  have  supposed. 
W"  has  gone  to  the  Opera  with  the  G.'s  and  I  have 
refused  all  things  to  weep  over  my  whiskers  and  write 
*' Falkland,"  two  of  the  most  digniOed  tilings  I  could  do, 
by-the-bye.  I  am  going  to  finish  him  to-night  I  hope. 
"  I  must  be  sure,"  as  Henry  very  wittily  says,  "  to  make 
him  die  in  a  period."  Do  dearest,  get  your  picture  done, 
I  long  so  to  have  it.  Why  docs  00  call  me  a  darling  ?  Me 
is  not  a  darling  :  00  concentrates  all  the  darlingry  in  in  the 
world,  and  has  left  me  none  for  myself,  o  zoo  M""^-  Poodle, 
M"-  Poodle,  zoo's  a  love  !  Will  00  dream  of  me  to-night, 
in  order  that  we  may  meet  as  00  thinks  we  do  ?  Good-bye 
my  love,  my  darling,  my  beauty  of  beauties.  Ah  !  when 
shall  I  lay  my  head  on  that  dear,  dear — Ah  ! 

P T. 

CV. 

To  Miss  Wheeler,  40,  Somerset  Street. 

[Her  disinterestedness  in  wishing  his  brother  William  to  marry.] 

My  dearest  Poodle, — How  shall  I  thank  and  kiss  you 
for  your  darling  letter  and  00  pretty  dream,  which  1  am 
quite  at  a  loss  to  expound,  except  in  the  following  way  : — 
The  play  is  lil'e,  of  course  ;  my  Mother's  scolding  and 
consent  require  no  explanation  ;  the  flowers  mean  the 
country  where  we  are  to  live  ;  and  the  chair,  the  sc«fa  on 
which  Puppy  is  to  go  to  sleep  after  dinner.     Does  00  like 

my  explanation,  love  ?     My  Brotlier  did  meet  E.  G ,  for 

it  was  to  Napoleon's  box  tluit  they  went.  It  is  very  dis- 
interested in  you  to  wi^li  W"^  to  marry  that  girl,  for  it  is 
the  very  worst  thing  in  the  world  that  can  happen  to  us, 
the  very  worst,  as  far  as  my  motlier's  consent  and  my 
exi)ectatious  are  concerned.  However,  it  is  no  use  strug- 
gling against  the  stream  of  fatality,  evcntho'  one  sinks  in  it. 

"  Falkland  "  is  drawing  near  to  a  conclusion.     Thank 


Lord  Lyttons   Letters.  191 

Heaven  !  I  hope  to-night  to  put  the  finishing  stroke  to 
liim  I  shall  be  too  happy  when  he  is  sufe  and  dead.  Pray 
my  own  love,  can  you  not  reward  me  for  all  this  trouble  by 
meeting  me  on  Tuesday  ?  If  sol  will  stay  in  town  till 
Wednesday.  Pray  do,  darling,  if  it  will  not  increase  your 
cold.  So  Poodle  would  not  take  her  collar  from  Pupyy  ? 
Me's  so  angry  with  00 — however,  zoo  must  and  shall  take 

one  when  me  has  written  ye  "  M of  a  G ." 

I  have  been  sitting  in  all  the  morning  till  4,  when  I  took 
a  tolerable  ride,  the  only  exercise  I  have  taken  for  a  long 
time  ;  and  I  am  much  better,  though  very  tired,  to-night. 
You  cannot  conceive  the  horror  with  which  I  glance  every 
moment  at  a  small  table  piled  with  papers  which  are  all 
going  to  be  woven  and  prolonged  into  the  4th  book  of  Mr. 
"  Falkland  "  this  very  evening.  It  is  a  great  pity  such  a 
very  wise  book  should  be  so  dull  !  I  am  very  anxious  to 
hear  all  about  Mr.  Gifford.  Poor  Dash,  how  much  he  is  to 
be  pitied  !  '^  Pitied/'  00  say  ?  Pretty  compliment  :  yes, 
"pitied";  that  he  is  with  00,  and  docs  not  know  what  a 
Avorld  of  happiness  he  ought  to  enjoy  !  Ah,  I,  even  I, 
King  of  the  Puppies,  would  change  all  my  pomp,  state,  and 
circumstances,  to  be  only  simple  Mr.  Dash  for  a  quarter  of 
an  hour,  and  be  fully  sensible  of  my  bliss  in  being  with  00. 
Pray  is  00  looking  pretty  now  ?  Me's  looking  so  hideous 
poor  wliiskerless  me  I  Me  runs  to  look  in  the  glass  every 
moment  to  see  if  they  are  growing.  Will  00  see  me  on 
Tuesday  ?  Me  will  be  almost  as  well  contented  if  00  don't. 
Farewell,  my  fountain  of  inexhaustible  happiness  !  Zoo 
own  faithful  Puppy  de  Poodle  Von  Falkland  Mac  Mortimer. 

P. 


102  Lord  LyttoiUs  Letters, 


CVI. 
To  Miss  Wheelek. 

["Falkland "-altered.— The  "Great  Unknown."— Vanity.] 

Dearly  Beloved  Poodle, — I  purpose  dividing  the  follow- 
ing discourse  into  2  lieuds  ;  the  first  I  shall  denominate  the 
Poodle  Head,  as  containing  an  answer  nnto  all  things 
coming  from  Poodle,  and  y  second  I  shall  entitle  Puppy 
Head  as  being  a  narration  of  all  things  appertaining  unto 
Puppy. 

Only  think  Miss  Poodle  of  your  making  the  same  sug- 
gestion as  myself  touching  the  capability  of  our  respective 
kennels  to  carry  2  inside  !  It  really  was  quite  ominous 
that  letters  containing  such  hind  proposals  should  cro&s — 
the  only  thing  cross  there  ever  will  be  between  us  I  hoi)e, 
Angel.  The  big  dog  my  Brother  is  not  with  me,  but  this 
day  at  2  o'clock  came  Napoleon,  who  has  lately  been  quar- 
tered at  the  Guards'  Barracks.  He  came  most  unmartially 
complaining  of  the  cold,  and  bearing  a  formidable  baton  of 
paper  which  soon  changed  into  "A  Political  Pamphlet  on 
the  Catholic  question."  This  I  had  patiently  to  listen  to 
for  the  best  part  of  an  hour,  which  courtesy  was  requited 
with  a  "  Well,  my  dear  Edward,  as  I  have  many  more 
things  to  read  to  you  and  it's  dused  cold  at  tiie  Barracks,  I 
think  I'll  stay  here  for  the  next  day  or  two  " — accordingly 
he  has  besi)ckcn  a  kennel.  So  my  own  beauty  must  be  a 
Sleeping  Beauty  all  the  week,  and  nurse  herself  well  in 
order  to  meet  Puppy  next  week.  I  am  delighted  to  hear 
3^our  face  has  gone  down,  having  been  terribly  alarmed  lest 
it  should  have  gone  off.  Pray  my  own  love,  do  every- 
thing you  can  to  become  quite,  quite,  quite  well.  0 
zoo  Poohdell  \ 

I  have    my    angel,  altered    Mr.    ''Falkland."     Never 


Lo7'd  Lyttons   Letters,  193 

before  did  I  see  so  strongly  tlie  trutli  of  the  old  adage  :  the 
difficult}^  is  in  the  Proof  T  Pun — 00  takes  me  ?  Ali, 
darling,  I  wish  00  did.  According.  My  })retty  qnack  defen- 
der, to  00  system,  you  must  admire  "  Alaiacl<s  "  and  Colley 
Gibber,  if  to  gull  the  Public  alone  be  merit,  of  a  verity 
'*'they  have  had  their  reward  "  as  much  as  that  iiuthor  of 
false  history  and  true  Scotch — whom  people  decently  call 
'•'  the  Great  Unknown" — Great  Fiddlestick  ! 

1,000,000,000,000,000,000  \marhs,  of  Usses\,  my  dearest 
Eose,  for  reminding  me  of  a  time  which  ought  indeed  to 
be  dear  to  me.  From  the  moment  I  have  been  honoured 
by  your  love,  I  have  passed  into  a  new  existence  ;  all  the 
former  of  life  seems  to  me  a  feverish  and  disturbed  dream, 
wliich  I  slirink  from  recalling.  Your  rose,  withered  as  it 
is,  comes  upon  me  full  of  recollections  that  never,  never 
can  decay.  My  own  darling,  I  shall  yet  repay  you  for 
everything— except  the  happiness  you  have  given  me. 
Your  love  is  inestimable.  And  did  my  own  Heaven  of 
Heavens  get  hurt  with  one  of  the  thorns  ?  Ah  love,  me 
will  kiss  the  spot  when  I  see  you  again  !  Yon  talk  to  me, 
my  angel,  about  my  faults — as  I  have  told  you  yours,  it  is 
fair  you  should  tell  me  exactly  and  particularly  mine.  Per- 
haps they  may  be  curled  up  into  something  prettier.  As 
to  "Falkland's"  doing  me  justice,  etc.,  no  work  ever  will 
be  a  1000^/i  part  as  good  as  I  think  I  can  make  it,  till  I  have 
my  own  time,  plan,  etc.,  entirely  as  I  please,  with  the 
certainty  that  I  have  only  to  make  my  undertaking  public 
in  order  to  have  it  fairly  estimated.  I  am  more  disgusted 
with  the  thing  at  this  moment  than  you  can  conceive, 
because  I  am  disappointed  in  all  I  iiave  done  myself,  and 
because  I  never  did  and  never  could — Vain  as  I  am — care  a 
single  straw  about  the  generality  of  people  being  pleased  or 
not.  Take  care  of  00  own  darling  self,  as  being  the  only 
thing  w*»  I  never  was  disappointed,  and  believe  me  my 
darling,  my  life,  my  love,  your  own,  own  adorer. 


194  Lord  Lyttons  Letters, 

An  excellent  made  dish  for  a  liglit  supper  :  "  P^^ppy 
d,  Vamour,  farci  de  Poodle.'"  After  I  had  finished  my 
letter.  I  found  I  liad  only  treated  of  one  Head  instead  of 
two.  No  wonder  !  since  I  have  been  so  confused  by  my 
love  for  oOj  that  I  don't  know  even  oo  from  myself. 

CVII. 

To  Miss  Wheeler,  40,  Somerset  Street. 
["  Falkland  "  finished  at  last. — Preface  still  to  write.]   • 

My  Own  Beauty, — I  am  so  sorry  that  you  are  in  pain  ; 
pray,  for  God's  sake,  nurse  yourself  and  don't  come  out  to- 
morrow if  you  are  not  better.  I  will  wait  in  Town  till  you 
are  quite  well  rather  than  you  should  exjiose  yourtelf  to  any 
risk  of  increasing  your  pain.  I  hope  most  fervently  that 
by  this  time  you  are  much  better,  \\^  it  will  give  me  the 
sincerest  happiness — absolute  hajjpiness — to  hear.  My  own 
Poodle  does  not  know  how  I  sympathize  with  her  in  every- 
thing she  suffers,  or  she  would  not  be  vexed  with  me  at 
some  unlucky  paragraph  in  my  letter  which  I  see  very 
plainly  she  is.  However,  I  shall  kiss  her  into  forgiveness 
to-morrow,  for  surely  she  knows  that  it  was  unintentional, 
whatever  it  might  be.  Do  my  dearest  love,  tell  me  what  it 
was — really  I  don't  know,  except  it  was  about  Poodle's  new 
collar.  We  certainly  will  not  get  out  of  the  carriage,  and 
we  had  better  say  half-past  twelve,  in  the  Square.  I  shall 
be  punctual  to  a  moment  to  that  time,  I  have  finished 
**  Falkland  "  at  last  but  I  have  the  Preface  still  to  write. 

My  dearest,  dearest  love,  I  am  so  very  much  grieved 
that  you  should  find  any  part  of  my  letter  calculated  to 
hurt  you,  especially  when  you  are  ill.  Do  tell  oo  own 
Puppy  what  it  is.  How  very  funny  it  is  in  der  son  Dash, 
to  play  with  chickens  in  that  manner.  It  is  not  at  all  in 
Puppy's  way,  and  oo  is  very  much  in  the  wrong  to  think 
so,  and  me  is  very  angry  with  oo  for  oo  sneer  at  iny  thinr 


Lord  Lyttons   Letters.  195 

ness.  However,  me  is  very  tliin  and  very  ill,  and  more 
and  more  likely  to  leave  00  a  young  widow,  Mrs.  Puppy. 
I  wonder  what  sort  of  a  man  00  w"^  marry.  I  don't  think 
a  very  clever  one,  at  least  I  would  advise  not.  But  these 
subjects  are  but  dull,  my  pretty  Kose,  and  I  am  not  in  the 
humour  to  find  a  gayer. 

So  00  are  to  meet  me  to-morrow.  There,  darling,  I 
have  found  a  happy  subject,  and  my  pulse  beats — so 
quickly  that  I  think  it  will  soon  gallop  up  to  12  to-morrow, 
or  rather  to  %  past  12.  Farewell,  my  own  adored  and 
darling  love,  and  do  forgive  me  if  I  have  or  vexed  you. 
Your  own  P Y. 

CVIII. 

[Miss  Boore. — Mr.  Jerdan. — Miss  Landon. — Not  reconciled  to  his 
Motlier. — Dislike  of  Cockburn. — Writing  "  Pelliara,"  a  gentle- 
man like  Gil  Bias. — Mrs.  Cunningham.] 

^Commencement  of  letter  missing.]  I  have  read  your 
Uncle's  speeches.  The  first  is  very  good  indeed,  very, 
very  witty  and  quite  in  the  true  and  })ractical  spirit  of 
speaking.  His  views  are  true  and  enlarged,  and  the  man- 
ner in  which  they  are  expressed  shows  them  off  to  the  best 
advantage.  I  can  very  easily  conceive  the  effect  which  the 
speech  appears  to  have  produced.  I  return  the  "  Annual 
Register."  Zoo  sail  positively  have  Elizabeth's  address 
to-morrow.  Miss  Landon  is  amusing,  and  would  have 
passed  everywhere  for  an  extremely  clever  person,  if  she 
had  nevLT  written  a  line  ;  but  she  loses  far  more  in  interest 
than  she  gains  in  admiration.  All  women  lose  by  wit  if 
jiot  very,  very  chaste  and  refined,  and  (ine  does  not  mean 
anything  personal)  they  are  still  more  certain  to  lose  by 
Satire  of  any  description  whatsoever.  If  I  had  been  in  love 
with  Miss  Landon,  the  simile  applied  to  Miss  Richardson 
would  have  drowned  my  affection  beyond  the  reach  of  all 
the  Humane  Societies  in  the  world.     Miss  Boore  is  admiro. 


196  Loi'd  Lyttons  Letters. 

ble  witli  hei-  anecdotes  of  Almacks  and  young  gentleman 
of  County  Families  chased  down  by  a  pack  of  Patronesses. 
Mr.  Jerdan  is  awful  !  Poor  Miss  Landon  ought  not  to  go 
homo  in  a  hackney  coach  alone  with  him.  The  ill-natured 
who  have  read  Miss  Landon  and  not  seen  Mr.  Jerdan  will 
talk.     As  for  me  I  should  say, 

"  If  to  her  share  some  female  frailties  fall, 
Look  in  liii  face  and  she'll  forget  them  all." 

I  think  your  sister's  verses  very  bad,  and  your  Mother's 
picture  pretty  but  inexpressive.  Me  docs  not  recollect  the 
verses  of  Lord  Byron  which  00  has  transcribed  in  so  '*  ili- 
gant "  a  hand  ;  but  they  are  all  about  lips  and  kisses. 

Zoo  had  a  calling  that  way,  dearest  it's  no  use  fighting 
against  one  genius.  I  am  sorry  about  the  insertion  of  the 
verses — be  sure  at  least  that  the  name  is  concaled.  I  have 
never  written  a  line  in  any  Magazine,  and  I  should  rather 
like  to  make  that  habit  a  principle. 

I  saw  my  Mother  to-day, — we  are  certainly  cool  ;  we 
have  never  been  perfectly  reconciled.  It  is  her  own  fault. 
And  she  ought  to  see  Iter  loss.  I  can  go  anywliere  and  gain 
friends  and  form  ties  ;  but  woe  to  those  who,  in  the  decline 
of  life,  will  not  endeavour  to  preserve  the  affections  of  their 
own  children  !  I  sliall  never  forget  the  nature  of  her  fond- 
ness for  me — its  effects  it  is  not  in  my  power  to  forgive  : 
to  forgive  any  injury  from  an  enemy  is  easy  enough — the 
smallest  from  a  friend  is  unpardonable  :  one  cold  word, 
one  bitter  look,  sinks  deep  into  my  heart  and  rankles  there 
for  years.  I  speak  now  more  on  this  subject,  because  1  have 
reason  to  be  displeased  with  Cockburn,  and  I  know  well  that 
if  I  strove  ever  so  much  to  like  him  hereafter,  as  I  have  done, 
it  would  be  impossible  ;  three  words  last  night  have  done  this 
work  for  a  life.  I  love  you,  my  own  own  darling,  so  vio- 
lently, and,  considering  mtj  nature,  even  so  unnaturally, 


Lord  Lyttons   Letters.  197 

because  from  you,  under  no  ill  temper  of  my  own  and 
under  no  momentary  displeasure  or  regret  of  yours,  have  I 
ever  received  one  chilling  look  or  one  unkind  word.  I  care 
not  what  other  ties  I  may  weeken  or  lose,  so  that  yours  is 
still  coiled  around  my  heart. 

"  For  while  ray  Poodle's  all  my  own,  1  see 
My  Father,  Motlier,  Brethern  all  in  thee." 

I  have  written,  or  rather  begun,  a  very  impertinent 
Preface  to  my  book,  in  which  I  v/ish  to  say  that  whoever 
dislikes  it  is  a  fool  or  knave  !  Nothing  like  bullying  people 
when  you  can't  persuade  them.  I  shall  immediately  now 
finish  the  "  Rebel,"  and  get  on  with  the  "  Memoirs  of  a 
Gentleman."  I  think  you  and  everybody  else  will  like  the 
last  mentioned,  (the  ''Mem.  of  a  Gent.")  far  better  than 
"Falkland" — it  is  chiefly  humorous  and  full  of  incident. 
I  want  to  draw  a  Gentleman  like  Gil  Bias.  The  half  of  it 
ought  certainly  to  be  done  in  ten  days,  for  whenever  with 
wearied  spirits  and  aching  heart  I  could  lie  down  and  for- 
get my  very  existence,  I  spur  myself  on  with  tlie  thought 
that  every  line  I  write  may  bring  me  a  day  nearer  possess- 
ing yon  wholly  and  forever.  Could  I  but  satisfy  my 
Mother's  vanity  and  open  the  road  to  Independence  for  us, 
our  difficulties  would  be  over  !  I  cannot  tell  you  how  dis- 
appointed I  am  in  "  Falkland."  I  had  hoped  it  would 
have  been  ten  millioua  times  better  than  it  is.  I  have 
frittered  away,  from  a  regard  to  the  prejudices  of  others, 
all  that  it  possessed  of  the  natural  or  elevated.  Some 
letters  to  Emily,  her  death,  some  s])eculations  on  a  future 
state,  and  one  accounting  for  political  differences  solely  by 
physical  causes,  made  by  far  the  best  part — all  that  is 
omitted.  Neverthless,  it  may  yet  be  read  suHiciently  to 
pave  the  way  for  something  else.  If  not,  nothing,  not  even 
time,  will  be  lost.     Oh  !     Rose,  if  I  had  only  an  Author's 


igS  Lord  Lytto7is  Letters. 

vanity  at  stake,  how  indifferently  I  should  play  !  It  is  you 
who  makes  me  week,  wavering,  restless,  and  anticipating. 
"  Tine  grande  passion  7nalheureuse  est  un  grand  mogen  de 
sagesse,"  said  Uousseau — "  Et  une  grande  passion  heurciise 
est  un  gra7id  moyen  de  folic,"  says  Ptippy.  Me  will  send  oo 
the  Preface  to-morrow  morning,  Oo  must  not  keep  it 
above  an  hour  or  two.  Well,  Rose,  it's  almost  (last  word 
wrongly  spelt)  time  for  me  to  leave  off,  is  it  not  ?  but  me 
cannot  yet,  not  till  I  have  again  and  again  implored  you 
not  to  make  your  chest  worse  by  setting  up  and  too  much 
writing.  I  think  the  greatest  proof  of  love  you  can  give 
me  is  taking  care  of  ooself.  Allow  this  is  a  long  letter  at 
last,  and,  what  is  more,  disinterestedly  so,  for  oo  sail  not 
write  me  more  than  a  sheet  to-morrow.  Zoo  has  quite 
enough  to  do  with  oo  book. 

A  letter  from  Mrs.  Cunningham  this  morning  ;  three 
have  I  received  since  I  wrote — something  like  Miss  Greene. 
Adieu,  my  darling  love,  my  life,  my  very  Poodle  of  very 
Poodles. 

Puppy  De  Curl. 
CIX. 

To  Miss  Wheeler. 

[Preface  of  "  Falkland."] 

I  send  you  dai'ling  the  Preface.  Leave  it  out  and  I 
will  send  or  call  for  it,  either  at  4  o'clock  or  in  the  even- 
ing when  I  write  again. 

Make  any  alteration  in  pencil  oo  likes. 

The  whole  is  going  to-night  to  person  who,  if  he  likes 
it,  will  take  it  to  Colburn.     Say  if  oo  likes  the  mottoes. 

Me's  in  a  devil  of  a  hurry  and  must  therefore  give  oo 
20,000  \hisses'\  and  wish  oo  good-bye. 


Lord  Lytioiis  Letters.  199 


ex. 

To  Miss  Wheelek,  40,  Somerset  Street. 

["  Falkland." — "  Memoirs  of  a  Gentleman." — "  The  Rebel."] 

My  Own  And  Only  Poodle,  My  Fountain  of  Delight, 

I  send  this  epistolary  stream  as  a  tribute  to  the  !  I  was 
80  vexed  that  I  could  not  write  to  A'ou  yesterda}'.  I  was 
staying  at  my  mother's  till  too  late  an  hour  to  do  so  ;  for 
as  to  Avriting  there,  that  was  quite  out  of  the  question. 
Even  as  it  was,  my  little  billet  was  regarded  with  the  most 
menacing  suspicions.  Unhappily,  5  minutes  before,  I  had 
been  talking  of  Miss  Benger's  death — that  brought  on  Miss 
Spcnce.  Miss  Spence  flowed  into  her  party,  and  ultimately 
settled  into  00.  My  Mother  saw  that  I  was  not  in  a 
humour  to  bear  any  inuendoes  or  surmises,  and  therefore 
was — to  quote  a  quotation  of  yours — "  Silent  to  think  the 
more." 

Possibly  she  connected  my  meeting  with  00,  with  the 
short  and  sweet  note  I  got  up  in  the  middle  of  dinner  to 
write  and  give  to  my  Servant. 

I  am  so  much  obliged  to  my  darling  Poodle  for  turning 
sporting  dog  and  killing  me  two  rabbits ;  it  was  so  kind  in 
her,  and  me  will  do  her  present  ample  justice.  Puss  in 
Boots  was  nothing  to  00,  nor  was  the  Marquis  of  Carabbas 
half  so  well  supplied.  Me  is  very  ])artial  to  raj(5*its,  and 
me  is  fu//y,  fu//y  sensible  of  00  kindness  in  remembering 
that  me  once  said  so,  and  of  00  consideration  in  applying 
00  memory  so  well.  Believe  me,  my  darling  Poodle,  zoo 
attention  is  not  lost  upon  me,  and  me  sends  00  in  return 
twenty  million  \kis8es\.  0,  zoo  darling,  zoo  booty,  zoo 
dear,  dear  Poodle  !  Me  went  to  Mr.  Chalon  to-day,  but  ho 
was  out.  Me  can't  publish  "  Falkland  "  till  my  agent 
returns,  which  me  hopes  will  be  to-night  or  to-morrow  ; 


200  Lord  Lyltons  Letter's. 

but  mo  has  got  on  famously  with  the  ''  Memoirs  of  a  Gen- 
tleman." Me  has  done  half  the  first  volume  (very  nearly, 
at  least)  since  me  saw  oo — not  much  indeed  to  do  in  so 
many  ages  !  Me  does  not  know  whether  to  like  it  or  not 
yet,  me  is  just  now  thinking  of  sending  him  to  Paris  as 
an  Attache,  bnt  me  is  not  quite  certain.  Many  thanks 
for  00  pretty  names — me  thinks,  however,  oo  wants  to  get 
me  to  j)ut  and  end  to,  for  out  of  three  names  oo  has 
chosen  two  are  real  onef=,  and  if  Puppy  called  them  'Si 
Villain  ''  he  might  soon  bo  in  the  land  of  his  canine  pro- 
genitors. The  first  Horace  Seymour,  is  the  most  strapping 
man  and  the  best  broad-swordsman  in  London,  and  so 
huge  animal  that  he  could  "crunch"  Puppy  at  one  bite 
and  swallow  him  in  one  mouthful. 

Henry  Neville  was  at  Cambridge  in  my  time,  and  was 
almost  a  bettor  pistol-shot  than  Puppy  himself.  Me  thinks 
the  intermediate  name  rather  too  pretty — Clinton  Mow- 
bray is  too  much  of  a  love  for  a  villain.  It  is  like  Bot- 
tom's sago  promise  in  the  part  of  the  lion  "  to  roar  ye  like 
any  squeaking  dove."  Me  liad  altered  the  name  to  Kegi- 
nald  Glanville ;  me  does  not,  however,  much  like  the 
alteration,  viz.,  if  oo  can  think  of  a  better  :  the  surname 
is  not  so  bad,  but  me's  afraid  the  X"-  name  is  too  romantic, 
and  yet  me  wants  a  longish  ?.  e.  trisyllabic  appellation, 
me  hopes  lo  have  finished  the  first  volume  and  the  "  Eebel " 
before  me  leaves  this  house. 

Warburton  is  a  family  name  of  ours  ;  my  grandfather 
was  a  Warburton  ;  mind  oo  ask  this  habitant  of  the  some- 
tb.ing  Hotel  if  he  is  a  relative  of  your  respected  friend  near 
Dorking.  Rose,  my  joretty  Rose,  I  ought  never  to  see  you, 
for  you  leave  me  each  time  10,000  times  more  desolate  than 
I  was  before.  You  are  too  great  a  treasuie,  and  my  heart 
literally  aches  Avhen  I  lose  you.  I  feel  as  if  the  great  spring 
of  life  was  broken,  and — well,  but  we  won't  talk  of  this,  for 
me  is  determined  to  get  oo  as  me  can,  and  me  is  going  to 


Lord  Lyttons  Letters.  201 

write  like  a  Dragon  all  night  on  the  strength  of  it ;  and  so 
me   won't   make  myself  a  fool,  which    nie  is   very  much 

inclined  to  do.     Me  returns  00  the  *'  A Register"  and 

00  "  r.ord  Byron."  Me  will  look  for  Elizabeth's  diroction 
when  me  has  written  this.  Me  also  returns  00  brothers 
picture* — when  00  goes  with  Miss  Landon  to  see  Martin's 
pictures,  could  me  not  go  too  ?  I  could  never  believe,  Rose, 
that  it  were  possible  for  me  to  love  you  as  I  do.  I  could  not 
have  believed  such  love  possible  in  any  man  ;  but  then  I 
could  have  believed  any.  woman  existed  who  so  deserved  to  be 
loved.  My  own  darling  Rose,  I  long  for  you  every  moment 
more  and  more,  and  life  seems  to  grow  every  day  still  more 
weary,  stale,  and  unprofitable  when  I  wake  and  find  you 
not.  God  bless  00,  my  angel !  When  shall  I  love  00  less  ? 
and  yet,  darling,  I  would  not  love  00  one  grain  less  for 
worlds  ;  unlike  00  who  wish  to  love  me  less,  for  which  me 
is  too  vexed  with  00.  Keep  ooself  quite  well,  and  believe 
me,  in  spite  of  the  fur  cloak  and  boots,  00  oion 

Puppy.  . 
Are  these  4  all  the  Volumes  of  Byron  ?    Elizabeth's 
direction  !     Sibton  House,  Hythe,  Kent. 

CXI. 

To  Miss  Wheeler. 

["  Falkland  "  Sold.] 

My  Dearest  Girl, — I  am  tired  to  death  and  not  very 
well.  I  have  just  this  moment  received  your  note.  I  will 
answer  it  at  length  to-morrow.     "  Falkland  "  is  sold,  tho' 

*  The  Biographer  states,  ia  page  33,  Vol.  II.— "  The  scparaliou 
took  place  after  the  birth  of  two  children,  both  of  them  dauglitcrs." 
— Whereas  there  were  six  children,  four  dauglitcrs  ere  Kosina  was 
born  (ii  was  a  great  disappointment  her  being  a  girl).  A  son  was 
born  after  llosina— he  died  young— as  well  as  three  of  the  daughters, 
leaving  only  Henrietta  and  Rosina.     Henrietta  died  in  Paris  in  18'i6." 


202  Lord  Lyttons  Letters. 

till  I  receive  the  money  I  shall  be  incredulous.  I  beg  you 
my  darling,  to  remember  in  all  things  how  dear  you  are  to 
me.  Oh  !  Rose,  I  am  so  more  than  fond  of  you  !  Well, 
well,  you  must  take  all  that  for  grunted  now,  for  it  is  very  late 
and  I  must  end.  Do,  do  take  care  of  your  cough.  God 
bless  00,  my  o\vn  love,  my  darling,  my  angel,  my  beauty. 
Ever  yours  eternally, 
E.  L.  B.  (Sir  Puppy  de  Poodle.) 

CXII. 

To  Miss  Wheeler,  40,  Somerset  Street. 
[His  birthplace.] 

[Commencement  of  this  letter  missing]  as  it  is  already 
later  than  the  length  of  the  journey  and  the  slowness  of 
my  steed  can  well  warrant. 

No,  love,  you  must  not  tell  Eliz.  yet  about  "Falk- 
land "\  but  I  do  beg  you  not  to  be  sanguine.  I  fear  there 
is  no  chance  of  its  succeeding :  it  is  not  good,  and  it  is  dull. 
I  have  directed  Henry  to  send  you  a  copy  directly  it  is  out. 
I  was  born,  darling,  in  Baker  St. — No.  31 — one  reason  I 
suppose,  for  my  great  aversion  to  that  street ;  and  yet  I  am 
thankful  for  my  birth  now,  since  you  have  made  my  life  so 
happy.  There  is  one  day,  love,  that  was  my  new  birth  and 
was  the  day  when  you  first  said  you  loved  me.  Do  you 
remember  it,  love?    Ah  I 

Excuse  this  short  scrawl, 

Zoo  OWN,  OWN  Puppy  foe  eveb. 

Write  to  Knebworth,  near  Stevenage. 


Loj'd  Lyttons   Letters.  203 


CXIII. 

To  Miss  Wheeler,  40,  Somerset  Street,  Portman  Square, 
London. 

[Visit  to  Brocket.] 

Stevenage,  March  12th,  1827. 

My  Dearest,  Dearest  Love, — I  cannot  express  the  grief 
which  your  letter  of  to-day  has  given  me.  If  it  can  (and  I 
know  it  mubt)  be  some  comfort  for  you  to  know  that  I  par- 
ticipate in  everything  you  suffer  to  the  very  utmost,  pray 
believe  that  I  would  lay  down  my  life  to  make  you  happy  ; 
but  my  own  pretty  Eose  has  another  consolation  which  I 
think  will  be  still  dearer  to  her,  viz.:  the  recollection  that 
everything  she  now  endures  for  my  sake  shall  be  repaid 
hereafter  in  the  fondest  and  most  anxious  affection.  The 
thought  of  all  your  love  has  cost  in  the  past  shall  become 
a  pledge,  my  own  darling,  for  my  wishes  to  preserve  you 
from  every  sorrow  for  the  future.  And  if  my  endeavours 
fail,  at  least  your  tears  shall  be  shed  upon  a  bosom  whose 
most  ardent  desire  is  to  kiss  them  away. 

Never  mind  your  Uncle's  anger — after  all,  darling,  he 
is  right.  You  should  not,  it  is  very  true,  go  out  without 
attendance,  and  I  cannot  blame  him  for  watching  over  you 
with  a  portion  of  the  same  care  that  I  should  feel  in  your 
safety.  So  my  prettiest  of  Poodles  must  stay  quietly  in  her 
kennel.  She  is  quite  too  pretty  and  too  much  of  a  Puppy 
to  go  out  by  hei'self  among  all  the  Dog  finders  and  Dog 
Stealers  of  that  great  town.  So  go  and  make  it  up  with  00 
Uncle,  darling  and  don't  think  about  not  meeting  Puppy  ; 
for  Puppy  will  trot  by  your  street  every  day  to  catch  one 
glimpse  of  you,  and  besides,  we  can  meet  at  Miss  Spence's, 
and  moreover  pi^rhaps  in  a  short  time  I  can  come  to  your 
Uncle's.     So  that  ou  must  keep  up  00  spirits,  my  beautiful 


204  Lord  Lyttons  Letters. 

love,  iind  remember  that,  at  all  events  ^.vhatcver  may  hap- 
pen before  the  summer,  no  sooiier  does  it  come  than  we 
are  oiw,  indissolubiy  and  forever.  Surely,  my  darling 
that  single  rccoUecLion  can  support  us  thro'  all  this  prefac- 
tory  probation,  long  and  wearisome  as  it  is. 

So  zoo  wants  to  know  about  me  and  my  adventures  ? 
After  I  had  written  my  last  letter  to  you,  I  mounted  my 
horse  and  trotted  off.  I  cannot  sny  that  I  met  with  any- 
thing remarkable  on  the  road  till  I  came  to  Lady's  place  of 
nativity,  there  I  stopped  for  a  moment  to  pay  for  that 
corpulent  companion,  who  recognized  her  old  kennel  with 
a  very  contemptuous  air,  turning  her  tail  npon  her  brothers 
and  sisters  and  cutting  her  own  father  with  a  coldness  truly 
refreshing — verily  she  had  profited  by  her  London  educa- 
tion. 

We  then  i.  e.  Lady  and  I,  renewed  our  pilgrimage,  till 
about  six  o'clock  I  found  my  horse  tired  and  at  Hatfield 
accordingly  I  baited  there,  and  entertained  Lady  very 
agreeably  with  a  little  divertissement  of  Mutton  Chops.  In 
about  an  hour  I  renewed  my  journey,  and  the  beautiful 
moon  rose  quite  as  I  pa.'^sed  thro'  Brocket.  I  cast  many  a 
long  and  wistful  gaze  at  ever  object  that  your  image  still 
consecrated.  The  light  of  the  skies  (they  were  so  calm) 
fell  over  the  the  waters  by  which  we  had  once  stood  when  I 
ventured  to  throw  my  arm  around  you  and  press  you  to  me, 
— even  the  remembrance  of  Miss  Spence  shivering  and 
petrifying  on  the  damp  grass  received  from  associations 
something  almost  approching  to  tender,  and  then  I  looked 
round  ;ind  saw  at  a  distance  the  little  temple  where  we  had 
sat — how  utterly  unconscious  of  the  mighty  ch;inge  in  each 
other  that  a  few  days  were  to  create  !  what  feelings, 
thoughts,  hopes  rv^shed  upon  me  there  ;  what  recollections 
of  a  beauty  and  a  nature  whose  smallest  perfections  I  was 
only  acquainted  with  at  that  time  !  My  heart  overtiowed 
with  love  and  adoration  for  you,  and  I  found  myself  almost 


Lord  Lyttofis  Letters.  205 

Praying  to  be  permitted  to  make  yon  happy.  I  rode  slowly 
on  and  passed  the  House — it  was  shut  up  and  looked  calm 
and  quiet,  as  if  the  spirit  of  its  turbulent  inmate  had  passed 
from  it  forever.  The  moonlight — as  if  it  were  an  emanation 
from  Memory  and  dwelt  therefore  the  spots  which  were 
most  hallowed  by  the  past — shone  still  and  bright  against 
the  windows  of  tliat  room,  where  I  had  first  told  you  of  my 
love,  where  I  had  first  pressed  my  lips  to  yours,  where  I 
had  first  vowed  to  be  yours  for  ever.  Ah  !  my  own  Rose, 
how  often  have  I  repeated,  when  shall  I  utterly  discharge, 
that  vow  ?  When  I  got  to  Knebworth,  I  found  my  Mother 
divided  between  the  pleasure  she  thought  she  ought  to  shew 
at  seeing  me  and  thecZzspleasure  she  felt  at  my  coming  three 
hours  later  than  she  had  anticipated.  I  took  some  tea,  and 
went  very  soon  to  bed.  I  woke  early,  told  my  Rosary,  and 
got  up.  I  sjient  the  whole  of  the  day  in  wandering  over 
the  country.  It  was  one  of  the  days  of  my  Evil  Spirit's 
ascendancy  over  me,  and  I  hid  myself  in  the  woods — not 
only  from  all  human  beings  but  from  the  bright  sun  him- 
self. His  light  is  too  holy  at  those  times.  I  returned  tired 
an  exhausted.  My  mother  wished  me  in  the  evening  to 
play  at  chess.  I  did  so.  Afterwards  we  conversed — no 
matter  what  upon.  I  sat  up  late  by  myself  trying  to  read, 
to  write,  to  wean  my  thoughts  from  myself  ;  but  could  not 
succeed  ;  my  spirit,  dearest,  had  a  feverish  presentiment  of 
wiiat  yonis  had  been  enduring.  I  rose  this  morning  better 
than  I  have  been  for  a  long  time,  and  had  it  not  been  for 
your  letter,  my  darling,  I  should  have  written  you  a  more 
amusing  episrle  than,  I  fear,  you  will  find  this. 

You  ask  me  dearest,  how  I  came  by  Dash.  I  believe 
this  to  be  his  history  : — he  belonged  to  a  gentleman  who 
died  ;  Dash  became  then  the  property  of  the  coachman, 
who  said,  with  the  most  admirable  delicacy  of  feeling,  that 
he  would  sell  the  poor  dumb  animal,  but  that  he  might  be 
persuaded   to   part  with  it   for  "certain  cxmsideratione " 


2o6  Lord  LyttorCs   Letters. 

My  compliance  with  these  considerations  procured  nie  the 
dog.  Oaly  think  of  Lord  Ongly  !  I  am  doubly  angry, 
because  I  cannot  be  surprised.  Ah  it  will  be  the  devil  to 
have  such  a  pretty  wife.  I  am  very  sorry,  my  darling,  that 
I  can't  send  you  any  violets,  for  there  are  none  yet ;  I  will 
directly  they  can  be  discovered.  I  do  not  think  I  shall 
stay  here  long  ;  if  I  leave  I  shall  go  to  Broadstuirs  or  East- 
bourne. God  bless  you,  my  own  angel,  do  preserve  your 
spirits  as  much  as  possible,  and  believe  more  than  ever. 
Your  adoring  and  doating  Puppy. 

CXIV. 

To  Miss  Wheeler,  4,  Somerset  Street,  Portman  Square, 
London. 

[Less  hope  of  his  Mother's  consent. — Her  unkindness  and  injustice. — 
No  care  for  fame. — Habitual  apathy. — Proposal  to  live  abroad.] 

Knebworth,  Welwyn,  March  13,  1827. 
My  Dearest  And  Prettiest  Poodle, — I  hope  to-morrow's 
post  will  assure  me  that  you  are  well  and  have  recovered 
your  spirits.  For  my  part,  I  have  been  getting  rapidly 
better  ever  since  my  arrival,  tho'  I  feel  restless  and  unhappy 
at  all  the  wretchedness  I  have  occasioned  my  own  love,  and 
the  little  chance  there  is  of  ray  seeing  her  for  so  long  a 
space  of  time — at  least  as  I  have  seen  her.  And,  my  own 
darling,  I  fear  we  must  live  entirely  abroad  and  i)erfectly 
secluded  from  every  one  :  we  shall  not  be  able  to  see  people 
nor  to  live  in  this  country.  I  will  not  disguise  from  you, 
my  dearest  Rosey,  that  I  see  less  hope  than  ever  of  my 
mother's  consent.  We  are  by  no  means  cordial — there  is  an 
injustice  and  unkindness  in  her  conduct  which  I  will  not 
submit  to.  I  have,  my  beautiful  bride,  no  scruples  in  tell- 
ing you  this,  because  I  shall  at  least  convince  you  more 
strongly  of  that  affection  for  you,  which  at  times  you  are 
saucy  enough  to  doubt.     If,  moreover,  nothing  is  to  be  got 


Lord  Lyttons  Letters,  207 

by  waiting,  vre  will  not  wait :  it  is  useless  to  make  sacrifices, 
if  they  are  neither  returned  nor  appreciated. 

Have  you  got  ''Falkland"  yet  ? — it  is  singular  to  me 
that  I  should  be  so  young  and  have  so  little  of  tlie  eagerness 
of  youth  !  I  cannot  persuade  myself  to  care  a  single  straw 
about  that  breath  of  fools,  which  we  call  "  fame."  So  far 
from  being  sanguine  or  even  interested  in  the  success  of  a 
book,  of  which  I  once  had  some  opinion  myself,  I  never 
even  think  it — for  at  tliose  moments  when  Avarice  would 
supply  the  place  of  Ambition  and  hint  to  me  of  the  notes  if 
not  the  note  which  would  follow  success,  habitual  Apathy 
(which  is  indeed  Philosophy  to  me)  answers  :  After  all,  if 
one  lives  for  oneself,  not  for  other  people,  it  matters  noth- 
ing whether  one  has  hundreds  or  thousands.  In  an  obscure 
corner  of  Italy  or  Switzerland  one  has  no  need  of  carriages 
or  suites,  and  the  ordinary  luxuries  of  life  are  easily  pur- 
chased when  they  consist  in  pleasure  not  show. 

I  have  been  doing  little  since  my  arrival  but  wandering 
over  the  country  with  Lady,  and  looking  at  intervals  after 
dinner  into  *' Gil  Bias"  and  Voltaire.  I  see  more  and 
more  every  hour  the  necessity  of  leaving  this  place,  and  I 
should  not  wonder  if  my  next  letter  were  followed  by  my- 
self— there  is  a  degree  of  restlessness  about  me  which  seems 
like  an  evil  spirit.  The  least  discomfoi't  in  a  place  drives 
me  away  from  it.  I  can  easily  understand  the  Sabarite's 
discontent  at  the  turn  rose  leaf.  Well  my  own  darling,  do 
tell  me  how  you  are  looking  and  what  you  are  wearing  : 
important  particulars,  with  which  you  never  favour  me. 
Oh  that  I  had  the  wings  of  a  dove  !  then  indeed  I  would 
flee  away  and  be  at  rest,  and  that  rest  should  be  where  for 
me  all  sorrow  would  be  banished,  if  it  could  be  banished 
from  you.  Need  I  tell  my  own  love  where  that  place  is,  the 
one  spot  of  Earth's  Paradise  to  me  ? 

Have  I  not  breathed  my  soul  there  in  sighs,  and  my 
heart  in  kisses  ? 


2o8  Lord  Lyttons  Letters. 

Adien,  my  darling,  my  Rosebud,  adlen.  Your  own 
Lover,  Iliisbund,  everything  which  is  tender,  passionate 
and  unchanging, 

E.  L.  B. 
CXV. 

To  Miss  Wheeler,  40,  Somerset  Street,  Portman  Square, 
London. 

[Reconciliation  with  his  mother.] 

AVclwyn,  March  15,  1827.  ., 

My  Beautiful  Love, — Many  thanks  for  your  pretty  letter. 
I  do  not,  my  own  darling,  do  your  noble  and  devoted  afifec- 
tion  the  injustice  to  suppose  you  will  regret  the  loss  of  for- 
tune, friends,  or  country  as  long  as  you  feel  your  reign  is 
extended  over  one  heart  which  would  break  rather  than  for- 
get you.  This  morning  I  was  on  the  wing  :  my  horse  was 
caparisoned,  my  luggage  packed  up,  all  was  ready,  went  to 
speak  to  my  Mother,  and — we  made  it  up.  Instead  of  tak- 
ing farewell,  I  stay  therefore — how  long  is  uncertain.  W^n 
is  expected  to-day.  He  is  going  to  speak  to  my  Mother 
about  E.  Gr.  Really  I  pity  her  being  so  "both  eared,"  to 
use  the  Lish  pun. 

I  have  been  out  all  the  morning  looking  for  violets  for 
you,  but  can  find  none  ;  so  I  send  you  2000  \kisses\ 
instead.  If  I  were  with  you  my  prettiest  Poodle,  to  honor 
the  draught  in  person,  would  you  be  sorry  at  the  exchange  ? 
I  am  delighted  to  hear  you  are  going  to  be  so  smart  with  oo 
pretty  new  collars.     I  like  your  choice  very  much. 

The  great  winds  were  about  all  last  night.  They  came 
round  my  windows  so  that  I  longed  for  oo  ten  times  as 
much  as  ever.     Did  oo  for  me  ? 

All  things  in  Nature  must  recall  you,  my  pretty  Rose  ; 
the  beautiful  remind  me  of  you,  and  the  rude  contrast  you. 
I  think  I  am  learning  Dash's  art  of  growing  fat,  for  I  am 
beginning   to  grow  quite   corpulent,  which   is  a  terriblia 


Lord  Lyttofis  Letters.  200 

sign  of  decreasing  love,  Rosey.  So,  as  Mr.  Hume  elegamly 
said  to  L<^  Palmerston,  "Put  that  in  your  pipe  and  smoka 
it!"    Hum! 

Well,  my  angel,  I  must  leave  off  now,  clio'  T  do  it  with 
great  reluctance,  for  I  could  talk  to  you  a  long  time  now  ; 
but  it  only  wants  an  hour  of  dinner,  and  I  must  ride  </lf 
with  this  to  the  post  before.  Adieu,  my  sweet  love,  my 
beauty,  my  darling,  my  Poodle. 

E.  B.  Puppy. 

CXVI. 

To  Miss  Wheeler,  40,  Somerset  Street,  Portman  Square, 
London. 

[Anxiety  for  ber  liealtli. — His  pursuits  at  Knebworth.] 

Stevenage,  Marcli  17,  1827. 

My  Dearest  Love, — Your  letter  gives  me  great  uneasi- 
ness. How  are  you  ill,  my  poor  Eose  ?  and  why  do  you 
not  rest  ?  Do  take  advice,  dearest,  and  adopt  it.  And 
don't  give  way  to  those  low  spirits,  for  which  indeed  you 
have  no  cause.  If  there  is  anything  I  can  do  to  remove 
them,  you  know  that  I  only  value  existence  in  order  to 
contribute  to  your  happiness,  and  that  if  you  will  but 
point  out  the  way  to  s3cure  tliat,  I  shall  be  too  ready  to 
follow  it.  Besides,  darling,  with  the  summer  coming,  if 
you  do  not  flatter  me  in  saying  you  shall  be  happy  with 
me,  you  ought  to  remember  that  I  shall  be  all  yours,  and 
perhaps,  my  dearest  Rose,  if  your  imagination  does  not 
deceive  you  as  to  the  extent  of  your  love,  that  recollection 
might  ,-upport  you  thro'  any  ])ain  or  privation  you  suffer 
now.  Do,  love,  I  beseech  you,  endeavour  to  be  well  for 
my  sake.  If  you  knew  how  much  my  Being  is  centered  in 
yours  and  what  self-reproach,  as  well  as  sympathy  I  feel 
when  you  tell  me  you  are  ill  and  unhappy,  you  would  bo 
more  merciful  to  me,  by  being  more  anxious  for  yourself. 


2IO  Lord  Lytto7is  Letters. 

I  hope  tliafc  your  next  letter  will  in  some  degree  dimin- 
ish my  uneasiness  for  you  ;  I  await  it  with  the  greatest 
anxiety.  I  am  still  vegetating  with  the  utmost  sanifuess  : 
I  rise  tolerably  early,  breakfast,  wander  about  till  tind, 
come  in,  write  to  you  and  take  my  letter  to  you  to  the 
post,  return  for  dinner,  and  go  out  again  afterwards. 

Sometimes  alone,  but  more  often  accompanied  with 
Lady  and  m}*  large  pipe,  both  of  which  companions,  no 
doubt,  appear  perfectly  supernatural,  to  every  poor  devil 
I  have  the  misfortune  to  meet.  To-day  I  am  going  to  see 
a  house  which  may  do  for  us  if  we  live  in  Enghmd,  which 
I  vote  doing  if  it  be  at  all  possible.  I  have  no  variation  in 
the  monotony  of  my  life — nothing  to  say  which  can  at  all 
amuse  you,  for  the  assurances  of  my  love  are  by  this  time 
either  too  old  not  to  be  trite  and  commonplace,  or  too 
often  repeated  to  appear  to  you  sincere.  However,  my 
own  love  must  believe  me,  or  rather/eeZ  that  I  am  her  own 
fond  and  unchangeable. 

P Y. 

CXVII. 

To  Miss  Wheeler,  40,  Somerset  Street,  Portmau  Square, 
London. 

[Colburn. — *'  Falkland."— "  Mortimer."] 

Kneb worth,  Welwyn, 

Sunday  March  19,  1837. 
My  Own  Darling  Poodle, — I  am  too  angry  with  myself 
for  having  occasioned  you  any  uneasiness.  The  reason  why 
I  did  not  write  to  you  was  simply  this  :  it  rained  very 
hard  here,  I  hud  been  complaining  of  illness  all  the  morn- 
ing, and  could  not  get  out  to  take  my  letter  to  the  post 
nor  did  I  like  to  trust  it  to  any  one  else  ;  and  so  my  pretty 
darling  was  forced  to  go  without.  My  own  love,  my 
beauty,  my  Poodle,  zoo's  too  good  to  care  so  much  for  me, 


Lord  Lyttofis  Letters.  211 

and  3'ou  must  teach  me  to  become  worthy  of  you.  And 
does  Sir  11.  Halford  pressible  country  air  ?  Why  cannot 
my  dearest  Rose  go  to  Chiswick  for  a  short  time,  or  to 
some  other  of  her  friends  ?  1  am  so  very  very  sorry  that 
my  friends,  are  not  your  friends,  and  that  I  cannot  procure 
you  an  asylum  where  I  myself  could  watch  over  you.  But 
pray,  could  not  Miss  Spcnce  take  a  house  in  the  country 
for  a  month  ?  If  so  I  could  get  her  ilie  loan  of  one,  where 
you  might  pay  her  a  visit  till  your  health  is  got  up.  Do 
my  own  darling,  think  seriously  of  this,  and  let  me  know. 
If  you  like  it,  and  Miss  Spence  would  do  it,  pray  manage 
it  with  that  venerable  lady.  The  house  I  speak  of  belongs 
to  a  friend  of  mine,  who  offered  to  lend  it  to  me  as  long  as 
I  liked.  Pray,  my  dearest  Poodle,  don't  laugh  at  this 
proposal  without  considering  it,  and  remember  that  of  all 
earthly  things  your  health  is  tlie  most  important,  because 
in  that  my  happiness  and  life  are  bound.  The  other 
advise  of  Sir  II's.,  viz.,  not  to  be  unhappy,  zoo  must,  my 
pretty  love,  conform  to.  So  00  must  think  of  our  house 
and  our  grounds  and  00  boudoir  and  00  drawing-rooms 
and  above  all  of  our  inner  kennel,  darling,  and  of  all  the 
long  arrears  of  kisses  we  shall  owe  each  other.  Oh  how 
long  they  will  be  !  We  must  kiss  all  day  and  night  to 
dearest,  in  order  to  pay  them.  Ah  !  zoo's  a  darling,  is  00 
not  ? 

Well,  my  beauty,  1  have  been  to  two  houses  to  see  after 
for  our  kennel.  Fancy  the  first  !  a  great  Hall  twice  as  bi:; 
as  ours,  a  suite  of  five  state-rooms,  a  whole  wing  of 
ordinary  sitting-rooms,  and  seventeen  bed  rooms,  grounds 
proportionably  *'  to  match,"  as  the  upholsterers  say. 

"  TIow  many  gardeners  are  there  usually  kept  ?"  said  I. 

"Eiffht  or  nine,  sir  !"  was  the  answer. 

I  fear  my  own  Poodle,  that  that  is  rather  too  magnifi- 
cent an  affair  for  two  poor  little  dogs  like  us.  Me  went 
yesterday  to  sec  the  other  place,  but  lo  !  it  was  already  let. 


212  Lord  Lyt toils  Letters. 

Does  my  own  love  prefer  one  country  to  another?  AVe 
must  be  within  30  miles  of  town.  I  have  been  quietly 
reading,  writing,  sleeping,  and  walking  and  riding,  since  I 
have  been  here — always  longing  for  the  night,  because  then 
I  can  dream  of  oo — and  then  for  the  next  morning,  because 
it  brings  me  a  leaf  from  my  beautiful  Eose. 

x\nd  so  they  dressed  my  Poodle  in  white  and  black?  0 
zoo  darling  !  how  like  a  Poodle  !  And  had  oo  oo's  bootiful 
ears  curled  nicely,  and  did  oo  not  look  too  pretty,  and  did 
not  all  the  puppy  dogs  run  after  oo  and  tell  oo  what  a  darl- 
ing 00  was?  Ah  !  me  sends  oo  nine  million  kisses  to  be 
distributed  as  follows :  500,000  for  oo  bootiful  mouth, 
250,000  to  00  right  eye,  250,000  to  oo  left  eye,  1,000,000 
to  00  dear  neck,  and  the  rest  to  be  divided  equally  between 
00  arms  and  hands. 

lam  quite  in  a  Royal  Rage  about  ''Falkland  ;"  it  is 
too  bad  in  Mr.  Colburn  not  to  put  that  gentleman  forth  ; 
if  ever  there  was  a  man  fit  at  all  times  to  be  seen — a  hero 
even  to  his  valet,  it  is  Mr,  "Falkland,"  and  it  is  quite  too 
bad  keeping  him  so  long  in  the  back-ground.  I  shall  write 
to  Mr.  Colburn  to-day,  but  my  remonstrance  must  be  made 
with  dexterity,  since  he  may  have  some  motive  connected 
with  the  sale  of  the  work  which  it  would  be  imprudent  to 
quarrel  with.  En  attendant,  I  am  not  idle,  but  got  on, 
tho' somewhat  slowly,  with  the  adventures  of  Mr.  "Mor- 
timer." 

Tills  time  last  year  my  own  love,  I  was  at  Versailles, 
laying  plans  for  a  very  extensive  tour  to  include  the  greater 
part  of  Asia.  How  little  I  then  thought  that  one  year 
would  make  such  a  change!  Alas!  "there  is  no  strug- 
gling against  the  stream  of  Fatality  !"  Zoo  asked  me,  my 
booty,  about  my  ears  ;  they  are  growing  up  again,  tho'  not 
very  rapidly  ;  and  I  have  got  a  nice  long  middle  ear  on  my 
upper  lip,  v.hicli  cherish  with  incredible  care. 

I  have   asked   my   mother  about   Sliss   May,  and  she 


Lord  Lytto7is   Letters.  213 

assures  me  positively  that  she  never,  never  mentioned  a 
\v  »rcl  to  that  Librarian  touching  "Falkland."  I  d;ires;iy 
copies  will  be  sent  to  my  brother  and  consequently  to  you, 
before  tlie  work  is  out,  Have  you  read  "  Vivian  Grey  " — the 
continuation  I  mean  ?  What  do  you  think  of  it  ?  Oh  ! 
Iy-the-b3''e,  me's  rather  angry  at  the  way  00  answered  my 
observation  on  Truckleborough  Hall.  Perhaps  my  own 
Poodle  does  not  know  that  she  has  on  literary  subjects  a 
sarcastic  positive  *' 1^11  set-you-right "  sort  of  way,  which 
militates  strongly  against  the  amor  propre,  tho'  not  the 
proper  love,  of  all  masculine  Puppies  of  every  breed  what- 
soever. God  bless  00,  my  prettiest  of  darlings,  my  love, 
my  beauty,  my  Foodie,  whom  I  dote  upon  to  excess — oh 
such  excess  ! 

Oo  owK  OWN  Puppy. 

CXVIII. 

To  Miss  Wheeler,  40,  Somerset  Street,  Portman  Square, 

London. 

[Never  loved  her  better.] 

Stevenage,  March  23d,  1837. 
My  Dearest  Darling  Angel,  Poodle, — How  shall  I  kiss 
00  enough  for  00  kind,  kind  letter  ?  0  zoo  love  !  would 
me  not  hug  00  to  death  if  me  was  with  00  ?  Yes,  my 
bootiful  Eose,  zoo  and  Mr.  Moore  arc  quite  right  as  to  the 
month  in  which  summer  begins  ;  and  00  has  Cowper's  lines 
quite  ad  inguem : 

"  Choose  not  alone  the  proper  male 
But  proper  time  to  marry," 

and  me  is  perfectly  convinced  that  00  has  shown  as  much 
taste  and  discretion  in  the  one  as  in  the  other.  Do,  dar- 
ling just  as  00  likes  about  Miss  Spence  ;  scud  the  letter  I 


214  Lord  Lyttons   Letters. 

wrote  if  oo  does  not  think  it  burlesque :  Zoo  must  use  oo 
own  judgment  about  it.  Pniy,  my  darling,  don't  be  too 
confidential  to  any  one  except  Elizabeth.  I  have  my 
reasons  for  saying  this,  which  I  will  tell  oo  when  we  meet. 
Either  Miss  Landon  or  Mrs.  Roberts  is  a  little  treacherous, 
and  has  occasioned  me  a  great  deal  of  uneasiness  and 
vexation.  Oh  !  how  glad  I  shall  be  to  accept  Miss  L.'s 
invitation  and  see  my  pretty  darling  Poodle  in  one  of  lier 
nice  new  collars  !  Me  does  not  wish  at  all  to  see  the  way 
Dash  gets  upon  a  chair  and  puts  liis  paws  around  co,  it 
would  be  a  great  deal  too  trying  to  my  Jealous  disposition, 
and  so  I  send  my  royal  mandate  to  that  faithful  and  well- 
beloved  Cousin  of  Blenheim,  to  avoid  all  such  liberties  for 
the  future,  and  to  remember  that  oo  neck,  and  all  there- 
unto appertaining,  are  the  exclusive  and  sole  property  of 
Prince  Puppy  !  Signed  this  day,  etc.,  at  my  kennel  of 
Knebworth.  So  !  all  de  dogs  are  making  oo  offers,  are 
they  ?  Xobody  ever  makes  poor  Puppy  any,  which  is  a 
great  shame.  \_Sketch  of  '^  Puppy  crying"  here.]  Mo 
wishes,  oh,  how  me  wishes  !  that  me  had  all  the  Indies, 
for  00  sake,  darling  ;  but  as  it  is,  my  pretty  Rose,  we  will 
only  cling  the  closer  to  each  other.  If  the  house  is  small, 
we  shall  be  nearer  to  each  other  ;  if  we  have  uothing  to 
tempt  us  out — Parks,  gardens,  grounds — we  must  be  at 
home  the  longer.  Ah,  zoo  Jewell  !  zoo  rose  diamond  I  zoo 
Poodle  !  [marks  of  kisses]. 

I  long  to  hear  about  the  G ^s.  Have  you  got  "  Falk- 
land "  yet  ?  Let  me  know  more  about  oo.  Zoo  has  left 
off  telling  me  where  oo  go  and  wliat  oo  do,  w*^  me  likes 
hearing.  My  poor  dear  love,  does  the  weather  make  oo  ill  ? 
Do  nurse  yourself  quite  well,  and  let  me  know  all  about  oo, 
an  exact  btiUetin.  My  dearest,  dearest  Poodle,  oh  I  that  I 
could  kiss  00  well  !  I  icould  kiss  oo  so  !  Believe  me,  my 
own  life  and  love,  that  I  am  truly  and  fully  sensible  of  all 
that  your  dear,  dear  letter  contains.     Every  proof  of  your 


Lord  Lyttons  Letters,  215 

confidence  as  well  as  love  iu  me  gives  me  pleasure  that  I 
have  no  words  to  express.  There  never  was,  I  am  snn^,  an 
attachment  that  rested  so  much  upon  the  trust  in  each 
otlicr  ;  and  when  even  the  warmest  moments  of  jiassion  are 
also  accompanied  by  esteem,  the  shortest  iu  duration  of  all 
human  feelings  becomes  the  longest.  You  have  the  art  to 
make  me  adore  you  beyond  all  possible  expression,  and  I 
never  worship  you  with  so  earnest  a  devotion  as  when  you 
advance  the  least  claim  to  my  veneration.  Does  00  tliink, 
darling,  that  I  do  not  think  00  a  thousand  times  more  of 
an  Angel  when  00  is  most  a  woman  ?  No,  my  own  Rose, 
it  is  not  when  00  is  most  sensible  and  clever  and  dazzling 
that  I  love  00  or  even  respect  00  most.  I  never  admired, 
you  more  enthusiastically  than  I  do  now,  nor  ever  signed 
myself  with  greater  sincerity. 

Zoo  OWN  ADORING  IDOLIZING  PuPPY. 

OXIX. 

[Asking  which  to  publish  next,  "Mr.  Mortimer"  or  the  "Rebe'."J 

Stevenage  March  24th,  1827. 
My  Own  Pretty  Love  And  Darling  Poodle, — Two 
million  \lcis8es\  for  00  nice  letter,  and  two  bites — not  in 
the  ear — for  00  flattery.  "  Falkland  "  is  too  happy  to  find 
himself  so  well  received  by  00,  and  if  I  have  00  real 
approbation,  darling,  I  am,  oh  !  how  richly  repaid  for  all 
the  trouble  he  has  cost  me.  I  was  not  pleased  with  the 
Preface  myself,  but,  since  00  are,  I  am  sure  I  must  have 
been  mistaken.  I  am  also  agreeably  surprised  at  your 
thinking  it  interesting,  w^^,  I  o-vrn,  will  I  fear  be  a  singular 
opinion.  Zoo  was  too  naughty,  my  bootiful  love,  to  sit  up 
all  night.  Ah  !  will  00  do  so  by-and-bye,  when  00  is  Mrs. 
Puppy  ?  Ah  !  zoo  Angel,  answer  me  that !  Me  docs  so 
ho[)0  and  trust  00  is  better — well  perhaps,  by  this  time.  It 
is  too  bad  of  00  to  be  ill  when  Puppy  is  well — or  me  must 


2i6  Lord  LyttoiLs  Letters. 

fall  ill  a^ain  in  orcU'r  to  preserve  the  gj^inpatb}^  Zoo  may 
write  tt.)  mc  to-morrow,  as  me  shan't  leave  till  Sunday 
afti'rnoon,  and  I  may  as  well  have  a  letter  from  oo  ou  that 
morning  as  not  ;  but  zoo  can't  hear  from  aie  to-morrow, 
zoo  knows — not  till  Sunday  night. 

\V™  has  gone  out  riding  ;  my  horse  is  too  lame,  and  so 
I  divide  my  time  between  reading,  writing,  and  walking 
Avith  I^ady  to  the  great  Pond  at  the  bottom  of  the  Park, 
■where  we  have  various  bloody  engagements  with  a  fierce, 
vast  and  terrible  Swan.  This  warfare  often  employs  me 
by  the  hour  together ;  and  then,  when  "  the  soldier  tired 
of  war's  alarms,"  why  of  course  he  would  not  be  a  Critou 
if  he  did  not  think  of  the  Ladies,  Love  and  Glory  always 
hunting  in  couples;  So  then  me  walks  morose  and 
mehmciiolv,  thinking  of  Poodle's  long  ears.  What  shall 
me  publish  next— '' Mr.  Mortimer"  or  the  "Rebel?"  I 
suppose  I  must  be  regulated  by  the  fate  of  "  Falkland." 

It  is  just  dinner,  darling,  and  me  must  get  this  to  the 
post  before,  so  that  me  must  wish  oo  good-bye.  Oh,  by  the 
way,  me  don't  think  mc'll  get  a  new  brown  cap,  but  a  new 
blue  cap  with  rose  colored  ribbons.  What  does  oo  think  of 
that,  Mrs.  Poodle  ?  Will  oo  come  and  see  it,  and  will  oo 
bark  at  it  ?  When,  when,  when,  when  is  me  to  have  oo 
picture  ?  Answer  me  that,  darling,  and  remember  my 
promise  of  exchange.  Well,  but  me  must  be  off.  Good-bye, 
my  darling,  my  angel,  my  life,  my  love,  my  booty !  Is  oo 
looking  bootiful  ?  Tell  me,  and  mind  oo  get  quite,  quite, 
10 ell ;  and  does  oo  go  about  in  oo  new  collars,  and  where 
are  we  to  walk  and  are  we  never  to  meet  any  other  way  ? 
Ah,  Poodle  ! 


Lord  Lyttons  Letters.  21 


cxx. 

To  Miss    Wheeler,  Somerset  Street,  Portman   Square, 
London. 

[Declines  to  be  lionized  at  Miss  Kenrick's.] 

Stevenage,  March  2bth,  1827. 
My  Dearest  Love, — I  write  in  very  great  haste,  to  say  I 
shall  not  be  in  Town  till  to-morrow,  in  consequence  of  the 
heavy  rain  avo  have  had  here  all  the  morning.  1  shall  at  all 
events  be  in  Town  to-morrow,  tho'  perhaps  too  late  to  write 
to  yon.     I  shall  go  to  Mivart's  as  usual. 

I  thought  you  had  made  an  appointment  with  me  on 
Tuesday,  instead  of  one  with  the  Gascoignes.  How  can 
zoo  suppose  me  could  go  to  Miss  Eemick's  to  made  a  shew 
of? 

In  extreme  haste 

E.  B. 

CXXI. 

[Violent  desire  to  destroy  her  picture,  so  unlike  her  beautiful  features. 
— Verses. — Has  finished  his  "  Satire." — Will  take  it  to  Murray.] 

I  have  come  home  and  read  your  letter  and  looked  at 
your  picture,  which  latter  (not  letter)  I  was  immediately 
seized  with  a  Violent  desire  to  destroy.  Good  heavens, 
what  a  fright  !  Such  an  expression  !  If  you  ever  looked 
so,  Hose,  I  could  not  answer  for  my  fidelity.  Such  a  con- 
tour !  Such  features  !  Pray,  pray,  let  mo  never  see  it 
again.  I  am  quite  in  an  effervescence  of  rage  about  it. 
Ah  !  who,  liose,  could  paint  the  expression  of  your  face, 
tlie  s(*nl  whicli  speaks  from  it,  making  what  is  beautiful 
divine  ?  but  t\\o  features,  so  exquisitely  chiselled,  might  at 
least  have  been  sketched,  the  outline,  however  inadequately, 


2i8  Lord  Lyttons  Letters. 

at  best  given  so  as  to  betray  the  resemblance  ;  but  this, 
this  !  Thank  your  good  fortune  that  I  did  not  put  it  on 
the  fire.  I  carefully  sealed  it  up,  locked  it  in  a  draw  and 
shall  not  trust  myself  to  look  at  it  again.  Yon  will  receive 
it  with  this  letter.  Pray  tell  me  when  I  am  to  hear  this 
Collection  of  Wisdom  which  you  have  hoarded  up,  and 
v/hen  am  I  to  sec  3-ou  again  ?  Pray  let  me  know  the  exact 
moment. 

I  have  finished  my  "  Satire'*  and  shall  take  it  to  Murray 
in  the  beginning  of  the  week.  You  wished  to  see  the  lines 
I  wrote  to  you.  They  are  in  the  other  side  of  the  page. 
This  letter  is  a  contradiction  to  them — like  (as  you  sagely 
observe)  all  my  other  letters,  which  seem  only  written  to 
deny  one  another.  My  beautiful  Philosopher  (too  pretty, 
perhaps  too  passionless,  for  the  softest  of  all — the  real,  not 
the  Rousseau  Eloisa)  have  you  yet  to  learn  that  the  Passions 
are  always  contradictory,  and  Reason  always  the  same  ?  If 
I  love  you,  I  must  possess  the  former,  and  therefore  con- 
tradict myself.  If  I  do  not  love  you,  then  I  am  in  possession 
of  my  reason,  and  you  will  find  me  as  steady  as  my  devo- 
tion to  you  is  now.  Take  your  choice.  Rose  !  Ah  !  will  you 
not  say,  with  Boileau,  in  answer,  "  Our  Reason  is  the  worst 
Sophist  for  our  hai>piness  T' 

Well,  but  I  said  my  verses  were  to  be  in  the  last  page, 
and  they  are  not  there.  Hear,  then,  they  come.  No  !  on 
second  thoughts  they  shall  have  a  page  to  themselves. 
They  are  to  follow,  by-the-bye,  my  description  of  those 
women  I  think  the  most  handsome  in  what  is  termed  Good 
{i.  e.  bad,  for  it  is  most  shamelessly  profligate)  Society. 
Before  you  read  them,  marke  my  words.  Murray  won't 
publish  the  ''Satire" — nobody  vv'ill — it  will  die  like  Miss 
Spence's  works,  and  Miss  Spence  herself,  without  a  single 
offer  ! 


Lord  Lyttoris  Letters.  219 

But  miud  this  blaze  of  beauty — none 

My  lov'd,  my  lost,  my  heart  divide — 
For  \\\y  perfection  blent  in  one 

That  spells  of  all  beside, 
And  to  mj''  charmed  spirit  seemed 

More  bright  than  all  my  boyhood  dreamed. 

Thou  wert  to  me  the  latest  ray 

That  Daylight  o'er  a  cloud  can  throw — 
The  beam  has  passed  in  gloom  away, 

The  cloud  is  lightness  noic  ! 
Be  still  my  heart ! — why  fall  so  fast 

These  tears,  the  records  of  the  Past  ? 

Enough  !  my  Soul  must  learn  to  bear 

Its  brief  but  bitter  toils  alone, 
And  woo  whatever  steps  may  wear 

The  green  moss  from  the  stone. 
For  all  that  round  my  heart  might  be 

Not  wholly,  Lord,  I  owed  to  Thee  I 

How  they  whose  joy  had  shunned  the  throng 

Will  trample  o'er  it  in  despair  ! 
But  who  that  loves  me  can  I  wrong 

When  thou  wilt  not  be  there  ? 
Alas  !  what  Memory  can  recall 

Of  the,  is  worth  the  love  of  all  I 

Thou  tell'st  me  in  the  paths  of  strife 

Forgetfulness  of  thee  to  claim. 
But  they  who've  lost  the  charm  of  life 

Can  find  it  not  in  Fame. 
A  thousand  objects  lure  the  mind — 

The  heart  is  but  to  one  confin'd. 

Yet  in  my  grief,  since  thou  didst  form 

Thy  nest  on  such  a  leafless  tree. 
It  soothes  me  henceforth  that  the  storm 

Can  only  fall  on  me. 
For  there  the  boughs  and  bloom  are  past, 

And  well  the  stem  can  bear  the  blast. 


220  Lord  Lyttons  Letters. 

I  know  this  is  no  filting  strain 

For  love  its  latest  vows  to  speak  ; 
But  we  may  never  meet  again, 

For  hearts,  like  ties,  will  break  ; 
And  I  would  lain  tbat  thou  shouldst  see 

That  mine,  till  broken,  is  with  thee  1" 

Oh,  Eosc  !  since  wc  have  met  again,  let  us  separate  no 
more  !  Why,  if  you  did  indeed  love  me  as  I  endeavour  at 
moments  to  persuade  myself,  why  should  thei-e  yet  be  such 
a  space  between  us  ?  Why  sliould  the  most  tender  of  human 
ties  be  wanting  to  hearts  which  are  already  so  closely 
united  ?  Ah,  my  beloved,  is  there  nothing  within  you  to 
plead  my  cause  more  eloquently  than  words — nothing  ? 
{^Termination  of  this  letter  missing.] 

CXXII. 

To  Miss  Wheeler,  40,  Somerset  Street. 

[Her  low  spirits.] 

[Commencement  of  the  letter  missing.]  Not  so 
desponding,  and  wretched,  at  the  idea  of  marrying  me  ;  the 
BGCond  is,  that  if  you  value  my  peace  of  mind  in  the  small- 
est degree,  you  will  not  talk  to  me  of  death.  If  you  were 
to  die,  I  should  never  know  another  moment  free  from  the 
most  utter  despair  ;  if  I  did  not  kill  myself,  I  should  go 
mad.  I  should  think  I  liad  murdered  you.  I  assure  you 
that  there  is  not  one  word  you  say  or  write,  alluding  to 
such  an  event,  that  does  not  go  instantly  to  my  heart  and 
gnaw  and  rankle  there  all  day.  Will  not  my  own  Eose, 
then  forbear  to  think  or  talk  of  that  subject,  and  will  she 
not  take  care  of  herself,  for  the  sake  of  him  who  assures 
her  solemnly  from  his  soul,  that  he  has  not  a  thought  of 
future  ha])piness  v^hich  is  not  wrapt  up  and  centered  in 
her?  And  now,  my  Kose,  farewell  !  Believe  me  every- 
thing which,  in  spite  of  a  thousand  faults,  the  one  virtue 


Lord  Lyttons  Letters.  221 

of  the  sinceresfc  and  most  passionate  affections  can  make 
mc. 

E.  L.  B. 

I  shall  leave  Thompson's  to  return  here  before  5. 
Write  when  it  suits  your  convenience,  not  before.  Do,  for 
God's  sake  and  mine,  take  y^^  greatest  care  of  yourself. 

P.  S. — If  I  seemed  unwilling  to  go  to  your  friend,  or 
seemed  to  make  a  favour  of  such  a  trifle,  it  was  only 
because  I  knew  that  the  very  idea  of  being  lionized  would 
make  me  stupid  and  shy,  and  it  was  to  your  friend  that  I 
was  to  seem  so  ! 

CXXIIL 

To  Miss  Wheeler,  40,  Somerset  Street. 

[His  Mother  less  averse  than  before.] 

My  Dearest,  Darling  Love,  My  Sweetest,  Gentlest, 
Kindest  Poodle, — I  hope  for  my  sake  that  00  keeps  up  00 
darling  spirits,  and  makes  ooself  as  happy  as  00  can  ;  as 
for  me,  me  intends  to  think  of  nothing  but  00  and  happi- 
ness, and  rapture  and  Tring  Park.  Me  saw  my  Mother, 
and  she  was  as  usual  very  kind,  but,  as  I  foreboded,  noth- 
ing decisive  passed,  tho'  she  is  certainly  much  less  averse 
to  the  thing  than  she  was,  and  I  do  most  earnestly  hope 
that  I  shall  ultimately  reconcile  her  to  it.  Tell  me,  dear- 
est, if  00  Uncle  has  spoken  to  00  and  been  kind  to  00. 
Me  does  so  hope  that  he  has,  and  that  00  does  not  vex  00 
pretty  self.  Me  is  going  down  to  the  Freemasons'  Tavern 
to-night,  but  me  hopes  me  sail  soon  be  back,  in  order  to 
receive  00  darling  letter.  Good  night,  my  ownest  and 
dearest  angel,  my  sweet,  darling  Poodle.  God  bless  00, 
and  farewell  !  Oh,  by  the  way,  bless  00  good  fortune.  A 
man  has  been  dining  with  us  who  said  last  night  to  a 
Avoman,  "  Look,  that  is  the  author  of  "  Falkland,"  "  mean- 
ing Puppy.     ''Where"  said   the  woman.     *' I  should  so 


2  22  Lord  Lyttons  Letters. 

like  to  see  him,  for  he  must  make  such  a  genuine  old-fash- 
ioned, empassioned  Lover."  There,  darling,  see  what  oo 
good  luck  is  !     Zoo  own 

Falkland  Puppy. 

CXXIV. 

[With  publishers.] 

My  Dear  Eose, — I  should  have  answered  your  letter 
before,  but  went  out  very  early  after  your  dog,  nor  did  I 
come  in  till  late.  I  saw  several  Bleniicims  very,  very  much 
like  him,  and  am  by  no  means  disposed  to  rely  upon  ulti- 
mate discovery.  On  my  way  home  I  called  upon  Henry 
and  Colburn  ;  at  the  former's  I  met  my  Mother,  who,  I  am 
surprised  to  find,  thinks  very  highly  of  "  Falkland."  She 
M'as  very  kind.  I  went  then  to  liurlington  St.,  and  had  a 
long  conversation  with  Oilier,  and  afterwards  with  Col- 
burn. I  believe  I  have  sold  both  the  "Rebel"  and  the 
"Memoirs  of  a  Gentlemen  ";  but  that  is  to  be  decided  on 
Monday.  There  is  a  review  on  "  Falkland  "  in  the  "  Lit. 
ChronicW"  (not  "  Gazette");  I  will  send  it  to  you  to-mor- 
row. There  is  to  be  some  in  the  jiapers  in  the  course  of 
next  week. 

So  much  for  myself,  and  now  to  your  letter. 

I  am  most  truly  sorry  to  hear  of  your  pain  in  the  arm. 
I  earncfctly  hope  it  is  better,  but  cannot  ask  you  to  let  me 
know  by  anything  but  a  verbal  mess;ige.  Pray  don't 
tumble  yourself  to  write  to  Miss  Land  on — there  is  plenty 
of  time. 

I  have  received  a  most  impertinent  letter  from  Miss 
Richardson,  which  I  would  send  you  if  it  were  an  atom 
less  insolent.     Good-bye,  dearest  Rose, 

Ever  your 

Puppy. 


Lord  Lyttons  Letters.  22. 


CXXV. 

To  Miss  AVheeler. 

[Reviews  on  "  Falkland."] 

My  Dear,  Dear  Love  and  Darling, — 2,000,000  \}cUscs\ 
for  your  letter — it  lias  most  inexpressibly  relieved  me,  and 
yet  I  am  restless  and  unhappy  about  you.  I  so  fear  you 
give  way  to  low  spirits  and  take  no  care  of  yourself.  Zoo 
has  nothing  to  reproach  ooself  with.  I  was  and  always  am 
to  blame,  and  I  do  to  you  what  I  have  never  done  to  any 
one  else.  I  own  it.  Do,  my  life,  my  love,  my  Poodle,  do 
take  care  of  ooself  and  get  quite,  quite  well.  I  shall  never 
cease  to  reproach  myself  till  00  is  so.  Don't  trouble  your- 
self and  hurt  your  dear  arm  by  writing  more  than  a  word 
in  answer  to  this  to  say  ^'letter." 

I  send  you  the  "  Litery-  Chron.'':  it  is  very  injudic- 
iously as  well  as  very  vilely  written  ;  for  instance,  it  says 
in  "  Falkland  "  "  there  is  no  aiming  at  effect.*'  To  coun- 
terbalance the  huge  panegyric  it  contains,  a  very  severe 
and  tolerably  humorous,  tho'  very  ignorant,  article  has 
appeared  in  the  "  Altas "  against  it.  I  was  very  much 
amused  to  see  that  each  of  the  papers  picks  out  the  same 
scene  for  an  opposit  purpose,  viz  ;  the  sea  scene.  The 
article  is  severe,  because  it  says  "Falkland"  is  a  work  of 
great  mediocrity,  of  great  folly,  of  great  dullness  and  great 
pretension  ;  it  is  humorous  because  it  says,  funnily  enough, 
*'  It  is  to  be  sure  a  very  wrong  thing  to  seduce  the  wives  of 
members  of  Parliament  while  their  husbands  are  about 
their  business  in  the  ILmsc  of  Conimons,  but  such  things 
may  be  done  without  solem  music,  dead  marches,  etc., 
etc."  It  is  very  ignorant,  because  it  talks  sad  nonsense 
about  the  words  in  the  Preface,  ''  fixed  principle." 


224  Lord  Lyttons  Letters. 

I  am  to  see  Colburn  to-morrow  at  one,  and  will  then 
tell  you  all  (hat  has  been  settled.  I  saw  E.  G.  last  night  at 
the  Opera.  She  is  pretty,  very  ladylike,  very  much  in  my 
style,  has  not  got  a  good  chin  nor  forehead  nor  mouth — :ill 
of  w^i  you  said  she  had  !  the  first  (the  chin),  above  all,  is 
faulty — no  sculpture  ;  but  on  the  whole  she  is  much  better 
than  I  expected.  But  how  could  oo  ever,  ever  compare  her 
to  00,  as  if  she  was  cne  hundredth  part  so  beautiful  ! 
Your  very  worst  of  features  are  more  perfect  than  her  very 
best.  I  have,  been  talking  to  my  Mother,  with  whom  I 
dined  and  from  whom  I  have  just  come,  about  oo.  I  am 
more  and  more  convinced  of  gaining  her  ultimate  consent. 
She  wants  so  much  to  see  some  of  oo  letters.  Alas  !  they 
would  doo  00  sucli  credit  and  yet  it  is  quite  impossible  to 
shew  them.  Has  oo  got  any  "  poetry  books  "  to  lend  me  ? 
I  want  to  read  some.  I  must  get  the  ''  Rebel "  done  before 
a  certain  day,  and  want  something  to  excite  me.  Poetry 
— when  good — always  does.     You  have  not  any  of  Shelley's  ? 

And  now,  my  dearest,  dearest  love,  once  more  forgive 
me,  and  prove  you  do  by  taking  care  of  yourself.  Never 
let  us  recollect  this  coldness,  but  as  something  to  shun  for- 
ever hereafter.  Adieu  !  God  bless  you  !  Sleep  sound  and 
well.     Your  own,  own,  own 

Puppy. 

CXXVI. 

To  Miss  Wheeler,  Somerset  Street. 

[Terms  for  "Mortimer  "  and  the  "  Rebel."] 

My  Dearest  Life  and  Love, — I  am  longing  to  hear  how 
you  are,  and  I  have  been  so  uneasy  about  your  health,  that 
it  would  really  be  ^  great  relief  to  my  mind  if  you  would 
see  somebody.  After  I  had  read  your  letter,  I  walked  down 
to  my  club,  looked  over  the  papers,  saw  the  contradiction 
of  the  authorship  of  ''  Falkland,"  went  to  Colburn's  and 


Lord  Lyttons   Letters.  225 

had  a  long  conversation  with  him,  w''  ended  in  the  follow- 
ing bargain  !  On  the  14fli  of  this  month  ijc  is  to  liave  the 
''  Iiebel  ";  on  the  1st  of  JNfay  he  is  to  h.ve  "  Mr.  Mortimer," 
for  tlie  which  he  is  to  pay  me  the  sum  of  £500  in  the  first 
instance,  £100  more  if  the  "  Rebel  "  goes  into  a  second 
edition,  and  £150  more  if  "Mortimer"  does— in  all  £750. 
I  tiiink  that  pretty  well  altogether.  I  then  called  on 
Henry  and  fonnd  there  2  or  3  young-men-about  Town ; 
they  talked  about  "Falkland'';  one  said  it  was  "very 
poetical,"  another  "very  arrogant,"  and  a  third  quoted  tho 
"  Altas."  Not  being  greatly  delighted  with  these  criticisms, 
I  marched  olf  to  my  stables,  and  monntcd  my  horse.  I 
rode  into  the  Paik,  and  soon  found  myself  "girt  with 
many  a  gentle  knight,"  who  sickened  me  to  death  in  five 
minutes  (it  is  quite  astonishing  how  people  bore  me  !)  and 
then  I  went  along  the  streets  by  myself,  with  an  aching, 
morose,  discontented  heart.  I  stopped  at  Henry's  and 
dined  there.  We  flattered  each  other  up  into  good  spirits, 
and  laughed  over  a  most  ridiculous  article  in  the.  New 
Monthly"  about  Lord  Byron,  and  from  thence  I  returned 
liere.  A  prettyish  Blenheim  spaniel  awaited  my  arrival, 
but  it  was  not  Dash,  and  so  I  sent  it  back  ;  and  now  I  am 
alone,  in  very  bad  spirits,  and  with  pen,  ink  and  paper, 
about  to  execute  the  unfortunate  "  Eebel,"  Viz.,  if  I  have 
nerve  and  strength  enough  to  do  it.  In  the  meanwhile  I 
must  wish  00,  my  dearest  love  and  Poodle,  farewell 

Puppy. 


226  Lord  Lyttons  Letters, 


CXXVII. 

To  Miss  Wheeler,  40,  Somerset  Street. 
[Broken  hearts.] 

Good  God,  Rose,  how  utterly  miserable  your  letter  haa 
made  me  !  what  do  you,  can  you  mean  ?  Pray,  pray — I 
implore — I  beseech  you — write  me  one  line — only  one  line — 
to  say  you  have  deceived  yourself,  and  I  will  worship  you 
forever. 

Oh,  what  a  wretch  I  was  to  offend  you,  and  yet  it  was 
exactly  from  the  same  cause  you  speak  of,  viz.  that  I 
loved  you  so  much,  that  one  unkind  word  hurt  me  more 
than  all  possible  injury  from  others  could  have  done.  My 
dearest,  dearest  love,  for  God's  sake  do  not  wring  my  heart 
by  such  dreadful  despondency.  If  you  were  to  die,  I  wd 
kill  myself  instantly.  I  always  resolved  to  do  so  directly 
life  had  lost  all  charm.  What  charm  could  it  possess  when 
you  were  gone  ?  If  ever  I  was  dear  to  yon,  if  ever  you  have 
forgiven  one  of  my  innumerable  faults  towards  you,  if  ever 
you  wished  for — not  my  happiness — but  my  freedom  from 
the  most  utter  wretchedness  and  despair,  you  will  overlook 
and  forget  my  offense  against  you — you  will  write  me  one 
word  that  you  will  nurse  yourself  well — that  you  will  live, 
as  you  have  so  often  promised,  to  be  mine — and  that  you 
do  not  feel  sincerely  those  cruel,  cruel  words  "  that  if  you 
were  united  to  me  and  convinced  that  I  loved  you,  it  would 
be  too  late."  Oh  !  Eose,  how  could  you  punish  me  so  bit- 
terly ?  If  you  knew  how  wretched  you  had  made  me,  your 
heart  would  smite  3'ou,  I  am  sure,  for  what  you  have  said. 
Look  back  at  my  offence  !  Consider  !  Before  that  I  had 
never  received  an  unkind  word  from  you,  and  you  will 
believe  that  one  so  morbid  as  me  could  easily  be  hurt  at 
receiving  one  for  a  cause  he  imagined  so  light.     This  may 


Lord  Lytto7is  Letters.  227 

]ierliaps  excuse  in  some  degree  my  *'  taunts/'  as  you  called 
them,  and  if  afterwards  I  was  still  cold  and  abstracted  it 
was  because  I  remembered  how  bitter  your  answer  [was] 
when  I  endeavoured  to  appease  you  !  "■  You  have  broken 
my  heart  enough  already  !"  I  know  that  I  deserved  that 
reproach,  and  felt  it  the  more  deeply  from  that  reason. 
There  was  not,  all  the  time  I  was  with  you,  a  single 
moment  when  those  words  ceased  to  haunt  and  torture  me. 
This  perhaps  does  not  extenuate  my  faults,  but  at  least  it 
accounts  for  them.  And  when  I  came  home  yesterday, 
after  having  employed  the  day  in  endeavouring  to  please 
you  by  recovering  poor  Dash,  and  overjoyed  in  spite  of  my 
failure  in  that  respect,  at  the  brightening  prospect  of  inde- 
pendence which  you  Avere  to  share  and  bless,  I  own  I  was 
disai)pointed  and  chilled  by  your  note,  and  wrote  from  the 
irritation  and  impulse  of  the  moment.  But  this  is  all 
vain  ;  if  I  have  hurt  you  and  rendered  you  unhappy,  I  have 
no  excuse.  I  wish  for  none.  Your  letter  has  broken  my 
heart,  as  well  as  my  pride.  I  only  feel  that  I  am  wretched, 
and  that  in  costing  you  a  moment's  pain,  I  deserve  to  be 
60.  Will  you  not  write  and  forgive  and  console  your  own, 
own 

Puppy  ? 

CXXVIII. 

To  Miss  Wheeler. 

["Rude  and  sullen  nature." — Forgiveness.] 

It  is  no  time.  Rose,  to  consider  which  of  us  was  the  most 
wrong — you  are  ill  and  unhappy  and  I  have  no  resentment 
left  ;  one  word  of  grief  or  complaint  from  you,  could 
at  any  time  pierce  me  to  the  heart,  at  any  time  Mould 
me  to  your  wishes.  I  now  lind  that  power  as  irresisti- 
ble as  ever  ;  forgive  me  I  beseech  you  for  what  I  have 
done  ;  perliaps  I  expected  too  much  and  yielded  too  little 


2  28  Lord  Lyttoiis  Letters. 

perhaps  I  expected  to  alter  your  nature  to  suit  mine,  when  it 
would  have  been  easier  and  better  to  have  adapted  my  own 
to  yours.  Forgive  me  this  once,  answer  me  by  one  kind 
word,  put  away  the  past,  let  us  endeavour  to  forget  it, 
and  I  will  strive  to  make  a  new  foundation  for  the  future. 
I  am  like  you  very  ill  and  very  wretched,  and  perhaps  I  do 
not  plead  my  cause  so  very  well  as  I  could  wish,  but  you 
can  understand  me,  and  if  you  will  forgive,  I  will  forget 
what  is  past — at  least,  only  remember  it  with  new  views  and 
wishes.  You  were  partly  right  in  saying  I  loved  you  too 
much  as  a  Bashaw,  it  was  my  nature,  and  my  reason,  which 
taught  me  to  expect  that  love  from  you,  which  it  was  idle 
to  expect  from  any  one  not  trained  to  make,  and  find  pride, 
thought  even  worship— only  in  the  thing  loved  :  Suffer  me 
to  renounce  this  vain  and  childish  hope,  and  I  will  be  grate- 
ful for  whatever  you  grant  me,  at  least,  however,  I  could 
have  made  this  return,  which  Turks  do  not :  I  could  have 
loved  such  a  Being  with  a  love  similar  to  Hers,  with  the 
same  devoted  and  iqnvai'd  love,  which  is  granted  to  a  supe- 
rior creature.  I  could  have  looked  to  her  as  my  soother, 
comfort,  hope,  dream,  star.  All  that  religionist  find  in 
faith,  of  consolation  in  grief,  and  purity  in  sin,  and  over- 
flowing in  Joy,  I  could  have  found  in  her  ;  for  the  very  con- 
descension, and  forbearing,  to  the  infirmities  of  my  own  rude 
and  sullen  nature,  which  seemed  to  you  and  perhaps  w<i 
seem  to  all  women  degrading  and  mean,  would  have  only 
raised  and  exalted  her  in  my  eyes. 

God,  and  Christ,  the  best  Mortal  (if  not  a  God)  that 
ever  existed,  bore  from  man,  what  man,  will  not  bear  from 
his  equals,  yet,  for  that  reason,  we  venerate  and  adore  them 
more.  Could  you  not  have  borne  from  me  a  little  longer, 
and  a  little  more  ?  I  should  have  thought  that  had  I 
acted  trebly  as  ill,  as  even  you  state,  and  deem  my  conduct 
Avas,  you  would  scarcely  have  found  an  excuse,  much  less  a 
reason  to  forsake  me.     But  this  is  not   what  I   ment   to 


Lord  Lyt toils  Letters.  229 

say.  I  mcnt  only  to  throw  myself,  .is  I  have  done  before, 
upon  your  pardon.  Shall  I  not,  Eoso,  find  it  extended  to 
me  as  before  ?  I  cannot  beg  it  as  earnestly  as  once,  for  I 
repeat,  that  I  can  no  longer  hope  to  repay  to  yon,  what  I 
may  cost  you  now  ;  I  cannot  woo  you  to  a  lot  of  honour 
and  happiness ;  I  can  only  dream  of  coldness,  and  sadness 
and  tears  ;  but  come  to  me  once  more,  such  as  I  am,  in 
evil  as  well  as  good,  and  since  you  think  it  beneath  yon  to 
boar  with  me,  I  Avill  teach  my  heart  for  your  sake,  the 
lesson  it  would  have  imposed  on  yours. 

I  will  answer  your  statement  now  ;  it  could  only  sIicav 
how  differently  people  feel  the  same  circumstances,  and 
since  you  believe  me  only  to  blame,  I  will  not  dispute  it 
with  you  ;  I  retort  nothing,  I  justify  nothing,  I  only  ask 
you  to  forgive  it  ;  this  alone  I  will  say :  I  did  not — God 
knows  I  did  not — in  my  last  letter  mean  to  taunt  you  ; 
look  over  it  again  and  you  will  see  I  did  not  apply  the 
word  "rivalry^'  to  you,  but  to  all  persons,  men  or  women, 
and  when  I  said  ''  you  might  marry  a  better  man,  and  a 
better  match  than  me,^'  I  mcnt  it  in  real  truth  and  single- 
ness of  heart.  Answer  this  now,  as  your  own  bosom  dic- 
tates ;  I  may  I  think,  yet  leave  my  cause  there,  if  not,  I 
wish  for  no  other  advocate. 

E.  L.  B. 

CXXIX. 

To  Miss  Wheeler,  40,  Somerset  Street. 
[Iler  delicate  flattery  about  "Falkland,"] 

My  Dearest,  Dearest,  Dearest  Love, — Oo  must  excuse 
me  if  I  do  not  say  all  I  feel  in  return  for  00  dear  kind 
letter,  and  00  delicate  flattery  about  "  Falkland,"  which  I 
know  00  wrote  on  purpose  after  having  read  the  critique 
in  the  Literary  Gazette,  which  Mr.  Oilier  showed  me  to- 
day, when  I  left  the  "  Rebel  "  with  him. 


230  Loi'd  Lyttons  Letters. 

I  am  tired  and  have  a  bad  cough,  but  am  altogether 
well,  and  00  dear  letter  has  put  me  iu  good  spirits. 

No  ray  own  darling,  if  00  does  think  it  dangerous  to 
meet  me  00  shall  not,  but  I  will  answer  that  and  all  other 
things  to-morrow.  I  write  this  from  Hcnry^s  who  is  very 
kind  ;  W"^-  and  my  mother  are  out  of  Town. 

Ever  my  dearest  darling  Poodle  00  own  Puppy.  0  zoo 
darling,  darling  love,  pray  excuse  this  short  note,  I  am  so 
very,  very  tired. 

cxxx. 

To  Miss  Eose  Wheelee,  40,  Somerset  Street. 

[Presents  from  Poodle. — Campbell. — Called  oa  bis  motber,  who  waa 
very  dejected;] 

My  Dearest,  Kindest,  Prettiest  Poodle, — How  shall  I 
thank  00  for  00  two  beautiful  presents !  it  is  too  like  00 
to  send  me  such  proofs  of  00  remembrance  ;  and  how  very, 
very  delicately  beautiful  they  really  are,  quite  worthy  of 
ooself,  and  00  taste,  which  is  saying  a  great  deal,  is  it  not, 
my  darling  Poodle  ?  For  what  else  can  be  worthy  of  00  ? 
''  None  but  myself  can  be  00  parallel. '^  But  how  could  00 
be  such  a  Love  to  send  for  Shelley^s  Poems  ?  I  only  asked 
as  under  the  idea  that  00  might  thave  them,  and  never 
dreamt  of  00  taking  so  much  pains,  but  00  is  too  con- 
siderate and  too  kind,  and  00  quite  spoils  me. 

The  pen  is  the  prettiest  thing  I  ever  saw,  except  the 
ring,  and  the  ring  is  only  prettier  than  the  pen, 
because  it  had  00  picture  on  it.  Oh  my  dear,  dear  Pose, 
Zoo  is  such  an  inestimable,  ineffable  darling  !  But  my 
angel,  I  cannot  go  to  the  concert  because  I  am  going  out 
of  Town,  unless  00  will  go,  and  then  me  Avill  stay  on 
purpose  to  see  00,  but  me  did  intend  going  to-morrow.  I 
want  to  go  to  see  two  houses  in  Herts  \j^  may  do  for  us, 
and  as  I  have  finished  the  ''  Eebel "  by  the  14^''  you  may 


Lord  Lytto7is   Letters.  231 

well  suppose  I  have  no  time  to  lose.  For  writing  anything 
but  letters  to  Poodle  in  Loudon  is  quite  out  of  the  question. 

Thank  00,  ray  beauty,  my  Poodle,  for  your  darling 
little  books,  which  delight  me  excessively.  I  am  too  angry 
with  that  horrid  Campbell  for  calling  you  "  Kosina"' and 
I  think  L'^  Nugent's  verses  the  most  beautiful  things  I 
have  read  since  00  own. 

I  went  to  my  Mother's  to-day  ;  "William  spoke  to  her 
about  the  Grascoignes  last  night ;  I  was  surprised  to  find 
her  not  angry,  but  very  dejected  ;  she  said  she  "  had  not 
slept — She  was  so  cut  up  "  and  then  when  I  talked  about 
us,  or  rather,  answered  what  she  said,  for  I  should  not  have 
begun  the  conver.-;ation  myself,  she  burst  into  tears,  and 
said  she  was  ''so  disappointed  at  my  marrying  for  anything 
but  ambition,''  and  so  forth  ;  and  tho'  I  saw  the  principle, 
was  selfish,  yet  I  was  very  much  affected,  especially  as  she 
spoke  kindly  of  you  individually. 

I  would  give  up  every  hope  of  fortune  if  she  would  but 
know  you,  she  v/d  be  sure  to  like  you ;  but  she  will  yet. 

I  wish  Miss  Landon  w'^  ask  her  on  the  19''*.  We  would 
then  effect  a  meeting  with  her.  I  wish  to  God  that  she 
could  know  your  virtues  I  was  never  so  much  affected  by 
her  opposition  before — it  is  so  seldom  that  she  herself 
appears  affected.  My  own  darling  angel,  in  all,  thro'  all,  I 
however  only  cling  the  closer  to  you,  and  only  feel  how 
very,  very  undeserving  I  am  of  you :  I  am  indeed 
nnworthy  of  every  one,  I  have  not  a  single  good  quality 
left, — not  one — but  never  mind  00  shall  inoculate  me,  for 
who  could  live  with  00  and  not  be  hallowed  by  the  very  air 
he  wd  breath  ? 

While  I  think  of  it,  let  me  tell  00  not  to  go  to  see 
Augustus.  I  don't  think  it  proper  especially  as  people  who 
know  him  not  o.^  not  believe  he  was  such  a  child.  I  have 
got  a  wretched  cold,  and  will  finish  this  letter  after  dinner. 
Well,  dearest,  I  have  dined,  and  have  looked  for  the  105th 


232  Lord  Lyttons  Letters. 

time  in  adniinitioii  of  00  ring.  I  never  anytliing  so  pretty. 
I  can't  fay,  if  I  \\q.\q  to  write  for  ever,  how  I  love  00,  my 
own  booty,  and  so  me  must  conclude  with  assuring  00  that 
mo  docs  unceasingly  adore  00. 

King  Puppy,  00  own  own  Puppy — 2,000,000  [^-/.^.ses.] 

\^Conclusion.'\  I  am  not,  believe  me,  I  am  not  the 
heartless  and  vain  Voluptuary  for  which  others  liave  taken 
mo  ;  I  prefer  your  happiness  a  thousand  million  times  to 
my  own.  Teach  me  then,  dearest,  to  bear  the  pains,  the 
privations  of  being  less  to  you  than  1  have  been  ;  lean  bear 
it,  if  you  will  toll  me  that  it  is  for  your  advantage  and  that 
you  loved  me  better  for  my  self-denial. 

Dearest,  Dearest  Eose,  do  not  "recompense"  but 
'*  reward  "  me  by  preserving  your  health  and  encouraging 
all  liope  of  our  ultimate  and  inseparable  union. 

It  will  not,  I  think,  dearest,  bo  for  your  interest,  for  us  to 
walk  out  even  to-morrow.  I  will  meet  you  at  Miss  Spence'a 
at  12  or  Yi  past  12,  or  any  hour  you  like, — perhaps  siie  may 
leave  us  alone,  at  all  events  I  shall  be  with  you.  Write  to 
me,  dearest,  and  tell  me  00  own  Puppy  all  about  00.  I 
have  been  to  a  celebrated  dog-stealer  about  poor  Dash,  and  he 
speaks  very  sanguinely,  but  says  it  will  be  some  days  before 
you  can  have  it  again.  By-the-bye,  when  I  was  at  dinner 
tliey  brought  a  large  he  monster,  by  way  of  answer  to  tho 
advertisement.  Zoo  has  no  idea  how  majestically  Puppy 
growled  at  them  !  So  zoo  thinks  me  very  stately  does  00  ! 
Fie  Poodle  !  me  is  not  to  00,  is  me  ?  Oh  dear,  dear  Rose, 
do  write  and  tell  me  that  you  understand  me  ! 

Your  own  (more  than  ever)  own 

Puppy. 


Lord  LytMs   Letters.  233 


CXXXI. 

< 

To  Miss  Rose  Wheeler. 

[Love  tokens.] 

I  do  not  know,  my  own  diirling  Eose  and  divine  Poodle, 
how  to  thank  00  for  00  letter  nor  how  to  scold  00  for  it,  nor 
how  to  express  the  ])ain  it  has  given  me  in  some  parts,  and 
the  pleasure  in  othei"S.  My  own  dearest  and  most  bcautifnl 
Poodle,  me's  very,  very,  very  sorry  me  ever  complained  of 
the  non-wearing  of  my  tokens,  me's  convinced  that  me 
wronged  00  now  00  has  explained,  and  oh  how  me  would 
kiss  00  if  me  was  with  00  for  wearing  the  bl  handkerchief 
w'^  me  really  did  not  know  !  As  for  me,  me  had  00  rinrjs 
3  (1  is  at  the  jeweller's),  but  me  put  them  into  my  pocket 
for  fear  of  losing  them  when  me  was  in  the  hackney  coach. 
So  00  is  quite  out,  Mrs.  Poodle,  for  once  in  00  Avise  life ! 
and  zoo  knows  that  00  great  big  pen  and  00  elephant  books 
are  a  great  deal  to  large  for  a  little  Blenheim  pui)py  to 
carry  about  with  him.  Me  begs  00  ten  million  pardons 
about  the  letter,  me  did  not  think  00  was  so  careful  about 
00  style  !  Oo  puts  me  in  mind  of  Marmontel  calling  on  his 
death-bed  to  the  printer,  "  Stoj),  stop,  there  ought  to  be  a 
colon  instead  of  a  comma  in  tliat  passage — there  !  I  shall 
die  happy — now  send  the  proof  !" 

But  me  won't  say  another  word  about  it,  for  me's  so 
very,  very,  very  angry  with  myself  that  me  has  no  other 
Avay  left  than  to  fling  myself  on  00  mercy,  since  me  cannot 
in  00  arms,  and  beg  00  to  believe  that  Puppy  is  quite  con- 
vinced how  very  much  he  Avas  to  blame,  and  that  00  must 
make  him  happy  again  by  forgetting  as  well  as  forgiving 
his  offences.  And  I  shall  see  you  to-night.  Oli  !  I  am 
so  happy  !  and  then  we'll  make  it  uji,  will  wo  not  ?  Do, 
darling,  and  then  me'll  dance  with  00.     But  my  own  darl- 


234  Lord  Lyttons   Letters. 

ing,  darling  love,  for  God's  sake  take  care  of  ooself  and 
wrap  up  warm.  I  sball  be  too  miserable  if  you  are  ill,  as 
00  say  00  are  now  ;  pray,  pray,  darling,  get  well  for  poor 
Puppy's  sake,  wbo  if  oo  likes  it  will  try  and  love  oo  less 
and  then  lie  will  be  more  confident ! 

Zoo  own  naughty  and  penitent 
Puppy. 
I  have  been  after  another  Blenheim  for  oo  all  the  morn- 
ing. 

CXXXII. 

To  Miss  Wheeler. 

[Going  to  Turubridge.] 

My  Dearest  Love,  And  Prettiest  Angel,  And  Kindest 
Poodle, — I  thank  you  a  million  times  for  your  booti- 
ful  flower  w^  I  have  put  into  my  bosom,  and  for  oo  nice 
letter.  I  am  just  off,  surrounded  by  my  luggage,  papers, 
and  book  at  this  moment.  I  propose  sleeping  at  Seven 
oaks  to-night  and  being  at  Turnbridge  to-morrow.  I  have 
heard  of  a  house  near  there  likely  to  suit  us.  I  shall  stay 
till  the  14th,  when  I  must  be  in  Town.  I  am  terribly  low- 
spirited,  but  shall  soon  recover  when  I  have  leisure  to 
think  of  00  and  nothing  but  the  trees  and  skies  round  me. 
Miss  Eichardson's  letter  is  too  insolent  ;  I  send  you  hers  to 
me.  Never  mind  her,  but  if  you  do  answer  the  letter,  do 
it  civilly  and  coldly,  and  with  a  very  dignified  tone. 

If  I  get  down  to  Seven  oaks  before  the  post  goes  out, 
I  will  write  again,  if  not,  oo  must  wait.  Zoo  can't  write 
till  00  hears  from  me  ;  meanwhile  be  sure  never  to  go  out 
without  a  servant,  unless  indeed  with  Bentinck.  Zoo  will 
see  the  necessity  for  this  and  pray  oblige  me  in  it,  even  if 
it  be  only  as  far  as  oo  Mother's.  Zoo  has  no  idea  how 
blue-devilled  me  is — one  great  reason  oo  sail  know  when  I 
write  again — another,  not  till  wc  meet.     Yes,  love,  you 


Lord  Lyttoiis   Letters.  235 

hal  better  procure  my  mother  an  invitation  to  Miss 
Laiido's  ;  no  harm  can  be  got  by  it,  and  some  good  may, — 
and  novr,  my  angel  Poodle,  I  must  Avish  00  good-bye. 
Take  care  of  ooself,  be  well  and  Jiappy,  and  continue,  if 
possible,  to  love  one  who  in  all  his  faults  never  ceases  to 
worship  00. 

Puppy. 
I  don't  return  Miss  K.'s  note  because  it  must  pain  00 
to  read.  it. 

CXXXIII. 

To  Miss  Rosina   Wheeler,   Somerset  Street,   Portman 
Square,  London. 

["  Lover— Husband — All."] 

Turnbridge  Wells,  Ajiril  S'a,  1827. 

My  Dearest  Love,  Life  Angel,  and  Poodle, — I  write  to 
you  this  evening,  partly  because  I  cannot  to-morrow  (it 
being  Saturday)  and  principally  because  I  am  to  eiiger  to 
fly  from  this  dull  and  heavy  existence,  which  I  endure 
alone,  to  you,  mj  brightening  and  beautiful  love — you,  in 
whom  I  have  garnered  up  all  of  my  heart,  but  its  grief  and 
and  madness — you,  in  whom  all  my  hopes,  wishes,  and 
desires  are  centered  and  confined. 

I  am  so  longing  to  hear  from  you  :  to-morrow  I  shall, 
shall  I  not  my  own  Rose  ? 

I  did  not  get  up  till  late  this  morning,  for  I  had  been 
dreaming  of  you,  and  tiicn  I  walked  for  an  hour  or  two, 
breakfasted,  wrote  some  wretched  lines  in  that  atrocious 
*'  Rebel  "  (of  whom  I  am  heartily  tired),  and  then  set  ofi  on 
horseback,  to  see  two  or  three  i)laces  in  ye  neighborhood, 
which  I  thought  might  suit  us,  but  I  could  find  none  that 
would,  so  I  returned  just  as  the  night  came  on,  to  com- 
mune with  my  own  heart  and  be  still.  Oh  this  weary, 
weary  life,  this  labor  ineptiasum,  this  struggling  after  dis- 


236  Lord  Lyttons  Letters. 

appointment,  this  toil,  fever,  madness,  in  which  nothing 
seems  liappy,  or  quiet,  or  certain  but  its  end  ! 

Well,  well,  I  must  teach  this  stubbon  heart  to  bend  and 
learn  the  modes  and  methods  of  the  world.  Do  you 
remember  love,  that  fine  line  of  Cowper's,  borrowed  from 
tlie  Bible  ly  Lord  Byron,  '•'  Oh  for  a  lodge  in  some  vast 
wilderness"  would  that  Ave  could  find  such,  and  escape  from 
men  forever  !  We  were  not  boru  for  them,  we  have  noth- 
ing, we  have  nothing  in  common  with  them,  but  their  earth, 
and  if  we  were  alone,  utterly,  eternally  alone,  that  earth,  at 
least  to  me,  Wd  be  heaven  ! 

They  are  going  to  play  under  my  windows  !  the  first 
thing  I  do  on  entering  a  Town  is  to  engage  all  those  who 
have  Organs  besides  those  of  speech  !  Music  is  another 
world  to  me,  a  vision  of  young  days,  a  dream  Avhich  brings 
tears  to  my  eyes  and  such  bright  things  around  me  !  And 
now  they  are  playing  and  I  want  nothing  but  your  hand  and 
lips,  my  fond  and  gentle  love,  to  persuade  me  that  the  bit- 
terness of  life  is  past !  Adieu  !  write  to  me  your  own,  own, 
lover — husband  !  all  ! 

CXXXIV. 

To  Miss  Wheelee,  40,  Somerset  Street,  Portman  Square, 
London. 
(Postmark,  Robortsbridge,  April  10<^  1837.) 
[Sir  John  Doyle. — Criticism.] 

Eobcrtsbridge,  Monday. 
^My  own  Darling,  Beauty,  Love,  Poodle, — How  long, 
long,  long  for  00  !  Does  00  know  what  are  the  three  most 
desirable  things  in  the  world?  "Ycs^^  00  will  say, 
"Poodle — Wealth— Health."  No  such  thing  darling! 
The  three  most  desirable  things  are.  Poodle,  Poodle,  Poo- 
dle, Poodle  the  sagacious,  Poodle  the  kind,  and  Poodle  ilie 
Poodle  !     Oh  !  zoo  prettiest  of  loves  !    Well,  Posey,  I  have 


Lord  Lyttoiis   Letters.  237 

been  to  Glastonbury.  Fancy  a  house  built  from  the  first 
time,  surrounded  by  a  moiit  which  on  three  sides  of  the 
house  bathes  the  very  walls  ;  behind  an  avenue  thro'  the 
midst  of  a  thick  wood,  a  wild,  rough,  tract  of  land,  once  a 
Park,  on  every  side  !  It  is  indeed  a  delightfully  rude, 
retired,  lonely  sort  of  place,  but  then  so  dilapidated,  so  worn 
out !  Next  to  Sir  Lumley  SkefSngton's  it  is  the  most  utter 
wreck  I  ever  beheld  !  So  my  own  pretty  Poodle,  it  won't 
do  for  us.  Does  00  see  the  jilace  from  which  1  date  this  ? 
if  00  does  and  if  00  knows  more  of  the  map  of  Sussex  than 
I  do,  00  will  see  that  me's  on  the  road  to  Hastings,  where 
God  willing  I  shall  be  to-morrow.  The  fact  is  I  left  my 
Hotel  at  Tiiubridge  in  high  dudgeon,  and  have  ordered  00 
letter  to  be  forwarded  to  Hastings,  where  00  must  direct  to 
me  fur  the  future.  What  shall  I  say  to  Lady  Caroline  from 
you  ?  let  mo  know.  Zoo  must  only  write  once  to  me,  as  I 
shall  leave  on  Wednesday.  I  have  only  heard  once  from 
W"^* ;  he  is  going  into  Kent  himself,  in  order  to  look  after 
a  place  for  the  honeymoon.  Silly  People  !  I  suppose  he 
and  Emily  think  the  honeymoon  will  bo  the  hapiiicst  time  ; 
never  was  there  a  greater  mistake!  but  I  won't  undeceive 
him  poor  man  ! 

Tell  me  in  your  next  letter — be  sure  you  do — whether 
Sir  John  Doyle  was  not  in  the  Irish  House  of  Commons 
just  before  the  Union.  I  wish  you  could  give  me  as  short 
a  sketch  as  possible  of  his  political  life.  Why  I  ask,  zoo 
sail  know  soon. 

I  am  at  a  small  quiet  inn,  drinking  some  wretched 
port  and  meditating  various  thoughts  of  which  Miss 
Poodle  is  the  great  universal  si)irit  !  I  should  not  my  own 
love,  have  a  wish  ungratiiied  if  I  could  have  you  and  my 
Mother's  consent  :  I  own  that  the  latter  clause  would  in 
some  degree  quiet  my  conscience,  and  my  bootiful  Poodle 
we  must  leave  no  stone  unturned  to  obtain  it. 

Zoo  tells  me   that  I  must  say  in  my  letters  if  I  lovo 


238  Lord  Lytto7i!s  Letters. 

Poodle  !  Ah  !  what  words  ever  could  say  so  !  It  is  only 
when  we  are  in  the  same,  same  close  kennel,  none  around 
us,  and  our  lips  close  together,  it  is  only  then  that  I  can 
just  sigh  how  much  I  do,  do,  do,  love  you. 

I  am  going  to  write  to  Napoleon.  Oh  !  by-the-bye, 
there  was  such  a  pretty  dog,  prettier  than  Dash,  at  Tun- 
bridge,  and  I  nearly  stole  him  for  00.  I  left  the  strictest 
orders  about  ^oox  Dush,  and  if  he  is  not  found  when  I 
return,  we  must  replace  him.  Ah  !  if  Puppy  himself  could 
go  instead !  Ill-fated  greatness  that  a  king  may  not 
become  his  own  Ambassador  ! 

Well  my  angel.  Poodle,  me  must  now  wish  00  good- 
bye ;  me  is  so  afraid  that  you  cannot  read  this,  the  ink  is 
so  bad.     Tell  me  above  all  how  00  is  ;  me  is  very  well. 

By-the-bye,  "  Mr.  Falkland "  is  in  great  request  at 
Tunbridge  !  The  Literary  Gazette  has  not  yet  noticed  it ; 
n'importe  !  I  intend  to  write  a  criticism  upon  it  myself  ! 
Adieu  my  dear,  dear,  dear,  dear  Poodle. 

cxxxv. 

To  Miss  Rosiha  Wheelek,  40,  Somerset  Street,  Portman 

Square,  London. 

[Her  present.] 

Hastings,  April  m^^  1827. 

My  Dearest,  Dearest,  Love,  Angel,  Poodle, — I  am  so, 
so  sorry  I  could  not  write  yesterday,  having  been  on  the 
road  all  day,  and  not  dreaming  that  tlie  post  would  go  out 
till  two  hours  later  than  it  does  in  this  barbarous  place. 
And  now,  my  booty,  me  must  write  quick — that  me  always 
does, — and  little — That  me  rarely  does,  for  it  only  wants  a 
space  between  13  and  13  minutes  to  the  time  in  Avhich  this 
ttMst  alas  !  how  many  vnists  there  are  in  life  !  be  in  the 
post.      My  own  pretty  dailing  beautiful  Rose,  I  received 


Lord  Lyttons  Letters.  239 

your  too  kind  present  to-day.  Zoo  is  really  in  the  way  to 
spoil  mc,  to  pamper  me  up  with  all  these  gifts  and  dona- 
tions, and  me  really  does  not  know  how  to  thank  00  ;  but 
00  always  gives  me  things  in  so  pretty  a  way  tiiat  me 
almost  loves  the  manner  more  than  the  thing  ;  and  yet 
how  Puppy  does  love  this  darling  ring,  and  this  bootiful 
pen,  which  me  would  write  with  bub  for  spoiling  it.  Oh, 
love,  I  never  thought  I  could  love  a  human  being  as  I 
adore  you  ! 

But  the  Poems  some  of  them,  as  you  say — are  so 
exquisite,  so  bursting  with  mind  and  thought  and  the  most 
burning  imagination,  and  yet  all — without  exception — so 
disfigured  by  conceits  and  affectations  the  Leigh  Hunt 
School  made  sublime,  yet — Good  God,  my  servant's  here, 
to  say  the  Mail  is  starting  !  My  own  love,  my  Poodle,  my 
adored,  adored  girl,  good-bye  ! 

Me  will  write  00  a  long  letter  to-morrow. 

Puppy. 

CXXXVI. 

Miss  Wheeler,   40,   Somerset    Street,    Portman  Square, 
London. 

[Returning  to  London.] 

Sevenoacks,  April  14^^  1827. 
My  Own  Darling  Darling  Love  And  Poodle. — Here  is 
Puppy  once  more  at  Sevcnoaks.  Finding  all  the  shops 
shut  up,  he  asked  what  was  the  matter,  and  was  told  it  was 
Good  Friday.  Finding  all  the  rooms  here  full,  he  asked 
again  what  was  the  matter,  and  was  told  that  there  w'l 
be  a  ball  on  Monday.  Being  in  great  tribulation  for  a 
kennel,  they  at  length  procured  him  one  at  a  shop  in  the 
town,  which  he  proposes  leaving  early  to-morrow,  and  being 
in  London  by  one  or  two  o'clock.  He  returns  to  Mivart'a 
Hotel,  where  he  hopes  to  find  a  long  letter  from  Poodle, 


240  Lord  Lyttons  Letter's. 

telling  liim  all  she  has  been  doing  this  weary,  weary  age  that 
has  i3assecl  since  he  heard  from  her.  My  dearest  love,  my 
booty,  my  adored  Rose,  I  am  in  perfect  despair  to  think  I 
can  Ond  no  words  to  tell  00  how  I  love  doat  on  00,  nor  to 
give  00  an  idea  of  the  burning  days  and  feverish  nights  I 
have  had,  from  the  first  and  yearning  after  00.  Ah  !  Kose, 
my  own  dear  dear  Rose,  I  cannot,  cannot  keep  that 
promis,  I  cannot  endure  this  penance — it  is  too  bitter. 
Oh,  do,  do  let  us  meet  once  more,  only  once  more,  and 
yet,  my  darling,  I  ivill  not  ask  00.  You  cannot  feel  any- 
thing like  this  gnawng  at  the  heart,  this  restless  craving 
and  desire,  which  I  feel  ceaselessly  ;  and  my  wish,  wrung 
from  me  against  my  very  will  cannot  seem  to  you  anything 
but  sellishness.  You  have  in  the  love  you  have  breathed 
into  me,  annihilated,  as  it  were,  the  very  idea  of  all  other 
women.  I  never  even  look  at  them  as  they  pass  ;  all  the 
feelings  they  could  occasion  are  centered  in  you.  You  are 
my  Sun,  my  daylight;  without  you  all  is  strange,  cold 
desolation  and  night.  Answer  all,  not  tliat  I  liave  said,  but 
what  I  cannot  say.  Answer  it,  my  own  love,  and  soothe  and 
support  me  at  least. 

Hateful  Miss  Richardson  to  vex  00  so  by  her  impertinent 
letter  !  Never  mind  it,  my  own  angel ;  wo  will  be  married 
and  spite  her.  Zoo  cann  ;t  think  how  many  Hours — no 
exaggeration — I  sit  and  look  wistfully  at  00  ring,  and  long 
for  my  own  incomparable  original  Poodle.  I  must,  really  I 
Qnust,  have  my  own  Rose's  picture,  as  well  as  my  own 
Poodle's  for  that  thing  of  Miss  Kenrick's  does  not  do  00 
half  justice.  I  wonder  who  is  the  best  miniature  jmintor 
there  is  ?  I  must  find  out  directly  I  get  to  Town.  I  don't 
think  it  very  likely  that  my  mother  will  go  to  Miss 
Landon's ;  but  I  shall  try  to  persuade  her,  for  I  want  her 
to  see  my  own  Poodle  as  she  really  is,  and  then  she  will 
wonder  at  Puppy's  temerity  for  ever  having  dared  to  think 
of  her,  for  if  ever  there  was  angel  on  earth,  it  is  00.     Oh, 


Lord  Lyttons   Letters.  241 

how,  how,  how  I  do  love,  respect,  adore,  and  venerate  00, 
my  own  own  own  love  ! 

Poor  Dash,  has  00  heard  nothing  of  him  ? — if  not  nie 
will  get  00  another  dog,  for  Puppy  must  have  an  Ambassador 
at  Queen  Poodle's  court. 

The  more  I  read  00  Uoo  darling  books  for  I  have,  "  The 
Forest  Sanctuary '^  with  me  as  well  as  '"Shelley's  Poems" 
the  more  every  idea  of  Love  or  Beauty  reach  00  to  me. 
20,000  \lcisses\.  I  think  we  had  better  advertize  for  a 
kennel.  I  see  none  that  would  suit  us,  and  I  think  it 
would  be  better  to  hire  only  by  the  year.  Well,  my  own 
dear,  dear,  dear  love,  I  must  now  wish  00  good-bye.  Pray 
let  me  have  a  letter  from  00,  and  pray,  above  all,  say  how 
GO  is,  and — and  Ah  ! 

Zoo  Own  Puppy. 

CXXXVII. 

To  Miss  Wheeler. 

[His  deafness.] 

My  Dearest  And  Kindest  Love, — I  am  up  for  a  wonder! 
/  too  could  scarcely  sleep  last  night  ;  but  00,  my  own  poor 
Eose,  who  seemed  so  much  in  want  of  sleep,  I  feel  quite 
wretched  that  you  did  not  get  it.  I  am  afraid  you  still 
fret.  Dear,  dear  Rose,  pray  do  not,  for  I  am  sure  I  can  do 
whatever  you  want ;  and  whatever  it  may  be,  I  will  most 
cheerful  and  happily  do  it,  if  it  can  i)revent  your  pining 
oosclf  so.  I  shall  call  upon  the  Lawyer  to  day,  but  hope  to 
be  with  you  by  1  or  very  little  after.  Believe  me,  my  own 
darling  Rose,  I  can  perfectly  enter  into  your  feelings,  only 
do  not  carry  them  so  far  as  not  to  do  justice  to  mine  and 
think  that  my  first  words  to  you  after  so  long  an  absence 
should  be  falsehoods  and  French  compt^-  But  00  won't 
doubt  me  again,  me  knows  ;  will  00,  my  darling  ? 


242  Lord  Lyttoiis  Letters. 

My  car  is  in  no  pain,  but  I  am  gotting  deafer  and 
deafer.  I  do  not  know  who  to  see.  God  bless  you,  my  poor 
dear  darling. 

Your  own  true  Puppy. 

1 

OXXXVIII. 

[Colburn  wanting  the  Poem  by  Monday.] 

My  Dearest  Darling  Rose, — I  am  worn  out  and  wearied 
to  death  witli  these  horrid  books. 

Colburn  has  written  to  say  that  he  wants  the  Poem  by 
Monday,  and  I  have  still  so  much  to  alter.  I  cannot  rouse 
myself  with  anytbing  willingness  in  the  task.  My  own 
dear,  dear,  dear  angel,  do  not  for  a  moment  think  I  have 
conferred  any  obligation  on  you,  No,  my  sweet  Poodle,  it 
is  you  who  daily  and  hourly  confer  obligations  upon  me. 
All  which  cheers  and  animates  me  in  this  bitter,  bitter 
world,  I  owe  to  you.  Everything  wearies  me,  and  I  turn 
to  your  image — and  forget  all.  My  dear  love,  when,  when 
ehall  I  win  my  way  to  that  Heaven  which  your  love  only 
affords  me  ?  My  beauty,  my  adored  love,  you  are  quite 
wrong  in  supposing  that  there  can  bo  no  proof  of  what  you 
say, — Your  generosity,  your  nobleness  of  lieart,  your 
devotion  of  affection — all  these  are  proofs,  which  you  never 
find  me  foolish  enough  to  disbelieve.  God  bless  you,  my 
darling.  It  is  late,  and  I  am  tired  and  worn  out ;  but  I 
am  yours  with  a  depth  and  earnestness  of  love  that  you  only 
cau  appreciate  and  inspire. 

Puppy. 


Lord  Lyttons   Letters.  243 


CXXXIX. 

To  Miss  Wheeler. 

[Shelley's  Poems.] 

My  Own  Darling  Love,  My  Dear  Sweet  Beautiful  Poodle, 
— I  thought  00  w^  like  to  have  one  line  from  mc,  so  I  send 

00  one  together  with  "■  Shelley's  Poems,"  which  I  have  read, 
all  but  the  "Translations,"  which  I  saw  at  one  glance  were 
too  literal  to  be  zoo's  poetry.  Do  mark  the  passages  00  likes 
best.  Ah,  darling,  I  ouglit  never  to  see  you,  or  else  never 
to  be  williout  seeing  00,  for  it  is  such  a  complete  and  utter 
loss  of  the  charm  of  life  when  00 — "has  gone  and  I  am 
desolate."  Zoo  will  never  know  how  I  love  00 — never — 
never-never.  Adieu,  my  own  angel,  darling  Poodle. 
Ever  your  own 

How  is  00  darling  head  ? 

Puppy. 
CXL. 

To  Miss  "Wheeler. 

[Criticism  on  her  Sister's  translation.] 

My  Own  Darling  Angel,  My  Dearest  Dearest  Poodle,— 
Zoo  is  too  great  a  love,  and  if  00  could  not  sleep,  neither 
could  I.     I  got  up  even  more  restless  and  feverish  than  when 

1  went  to  bed.  No,  love,  me  does  not  go  to  the  play, 
because  me'snot  asked,  but  00  can.  Pray  do  ;  it  will  enliven 
you.  I  think  your  sistei-'s  translation  only  one  degree 
better  than  the  original  could  have  been  ;  it  is  the  most 
absurd,  nonsensical,  canting  tnish  I  ever  read  ;  and,  the 
verses  on  her  Death  are  "too  weary  and  stale."  You  see 
that  according  to  my  usual  custom  I  never  mince  my  criti- 
cisms.    I  return  it.     Miss  Spence's  letter  is  too  laughable  ! 


2  44  Lord  Lyttons   Letters. 

Will  00  put  me  in  mind  that  I  scold  oo  about  something  in 
it,  when  we  meet  on  Thursday  ?  What  time  do  3^ou  go  to 
Miss  Langdon's  ? 

I  send  you  engravings  of  carriages,  with  an  estimate  ;  it 
is  not  the  colour  of  any  which  you  are  to  look  at,  merely  the 
shape.  Tiie  green  is  the  last  ''fashion."  Describe  the  sort 
of  thing  oo'd  like. 

I  am  very  much  yours.  Does  oo  like  that  phrase,  or 
"Wd  00  prefer  "  I  am  wholly  yours  1" 

Ah  I  Ah  I  Puppy. 

CXLI. 

To  Miss  Wheeler,  40,  Somerset  Street. 

[Hayter  and  Chalon,  the  miniature  painters. — His  proposed  change 
of  name. — "  Anastatius"  the  pcrfectest  novel  of  the  day.] 

My  Own  Darling  Angel  Poodle, — Is  oo  going  to  the 
Play,  me  wonders,  and  wants  to  know,  that  my  "soul  at 
least  may  be  with  oo.  Zoo  must  send  me  buck  those  pic- 
tures of  carriages.  I  send  oo  the  picture  of  Queen's  Mab's 
Maid.  Pray  return  it ;  oo  can't  tell  if  it  is  like  oo,  but  it 
is  at  certain  moments.  Ah  !  I  have  been  to  Ilaytcr's,  the 
Painter,  to-day.  His  sister  draws  the  most  accurate  mini- 
atures of  any  one  ;  and  Chalon  (Miss  Hodgson's  friend)  the 
best  executed,  which  will  oo  have  ?  In  truth,  I  have  made 
an  appointment  with  Hayter  on  Thursday  for  you.  Could 
you  manage  to  go  with  me,  and  would  it  be  imprudent  ? 
Let  me  know  ;  if  you  won't  go  with  me,  do  go  by  yourself 
and  see  Miss  Ilaytcr's  pictures.  He  has  promised  (I  did 
not  see  her)  to  take  oo  in  an  appropriate  costume.  I  have 
told  him  already  how  beautifully  chiselled  oo  features  are. 
Now  pray  oblige  me  iu  this  and  oo  shall  have  mine  done 
too.  I  have  also  been  busying  myself  about  the  Annuity 
and  about  the  adoption  of  the  name  of  Warburton,  for  my 


Lord  Lyttons  Letters.  245 

Grandfather's  name  was  Wiirburton  Lytton,  so  that  if  I 
ever  assume  tlie  last  name  the  former  one  will  be  neither 
unfamiliar  or  inappropriate.  Zoo  !  am  angel  and  a  darling 
and  a  Poodle  !  That's  what  00  is  !  Does  00  know  that  ? 
and  in  spite  of  all  things  I  love  and  adore  00  to  a  most  silly 
degree.  I  wonder  if  my  Mother  has  come  to  Town  ?  I 
must  send  to  know.  I  am  in  great  perplexity  about  various 
things.  What  does  00  think  about  my  criticism  on  00 
sister's  writing  ?  Me's  going  to  sit  in,  smoke,  and  write 
*'  Mr.  Mortimer"  (whose  name  is  to  be  changed  to  **  Mr. 
Cavendish  "  or  "  Mr.  Compton  ")  all  the  evening.  I  think 
of  dedicating  it,  the  "  M.  of  a  Gent.,"  to  the  Author  of 
**  Anastatius."  Do  you  agree  with  me  that  that  work  is 
the  "  perfectest "  novel  of  the  day  ?  Let  me  know. 
Eternally  and  fervently  yours 

Oo  Own  Pup. 

CXLII. 

[Houses. — Waywardness  of  temper.— Authorship  designs.] 

My  Dearest  Love, — I  am  quite  uneasy  at  that  pain  in 
your  side — pray  what  do  they  say  is  the  cause  ?  I  am  sure 
you  should  hot  have  it,  if  you  were  with  me  ;  and  your  sore 
throat,  and  headache  too  ?  My  darling  Rose,  why  indeed 
are  we  not  together  ?  Could  we  not  charm  them  away, 
dearest  ?  Do  take  the  greatest  care  of  yourself,  and  don't 
above  all  things  venture  out  while  this  weather  continues. 
I  conjure  this  by  that  prettiest  of  oaths  (which  I  never 
heard  till  it  came  from  the  prettiest  of  sources),  the  religion 
of  our  loves."  And  so.  Rose,  my  most  inquisitorial  en- 
quirer, you  want  to  know  how  I  came  by  the  dog  ?  The 
Queen  of  the  Fairies  gave  it  to  me  as  an  incomparable 
likeness  of  the  most  incomparable  Bijou  in  the  world  ;  or, 
if  that  answer  does  not  please  you,  you  must,  I  fear,  sup- 
pose that  it  does  not  belong  to  mo,  but  to  the  landlady  of 


246  Lord  Lyttons  Letters. 

my  apnrtnients.     There,  Rose,  is  that  question  answered  ! 

Rose,  Rose,  Rose,  your  name  is  too  beautiful  as  Lady  C 

■would  say.  I  want  to  talk  to  you  about  several  things 
when  we  meet.  Pray,  by-thc-bye,  what  situation  do  you 
think  will  be  best  for  Mrs.  Warburton  'i  I  have  seen  4 
houses,  one  at  Cheani  (w*»  won't  do),  one  at  Norwood,  one 
Pinner,  and  one  at  Bayswater  ;  they  would  all  answer  very 
well.  For  myself,  I  think  the  one  at  Bayswater,  which  is 
perfectly  retired,  would  do  the  best,  but  have  not  yet  taken 
it  lest  you  should  think  Mrs.  Warburton  would  object  to 
the  situation.  But  I  tliii)k  there  is  no  reason  to  do  so. 
Oh,  Rose,  my  adored  and  beautiful  Rose,  are  there  any  on 
earth  who  love  each  other  more  than  we  do  ? 

Thank  you  for  the  half-and-half  consent  to  the  Play. 
"What  day  will  suit  you  ?  If  \  can  get  a  box  to-morrow 
night,  will  you  come  ?  or  should  you  get  one  from  Mess" 
Saunders  and  Ottley,  time  enough  on  Wednesday.  Let 
me  know  which  day  you  prefer.  Write  early  that  I  may 
know  in  time  to  get  a  box  for  to-morrow,  in  case  you  like 
that  day  best.  I  can  neither  get  my  MS.  nor  an  answer 
from  Murray.  I  don't  much  care,  for  the  "  Satire '' was 
not  very  good.  You  see,  my  fair  Plunderer  of  Publishers, 
what  a  much  better  negotiator  you  are  than  me  ! 

Thank  you  my  darling  girl,  for  your  very,  very  kind 
and  soothing  expression  about  my  waywardness  of  temper. 
I  will  confess  (and  I  know  it  to  be  a  weakness)  that  there 
are  some  times  when  I  am  subject  to  such  extreme  gloom 
and  despondency  that  no  effort  can  shake  them  off.  I  then 
shut  myself  up,  and,  tho'  I  wished  for  you  this  morning,-! 
know  that  if  you  had  been  here,  I  should  have  flown  from 
you  !  Very  gallant,  you  will  say  !  Yes,  love,  it  is  very 
gallant,  for  I  do  not  wish  any  one,  much  less  you,  to  see 
me  when  I  am  what  I — I  have  left  that  sentence  unfinished, 
for  I  have  paused  for  some  time  since  I  wrote  it,  and  have 
now  forgotten  all  I  was  guing  to  express.     So  there,  love, 


Lord  Lyttoiis  Letters.  247 

ave  (to  make  up  for  the  omission)  some  extracts  from  that 
language  which  all  understand  \)narlcs  of  hisses].  And 
yet,  my  love,  tho'  all  understand  it,  none  can  apply  it  like 
us.  In  asking  you,  my  darling,  the  question  about  the 
houses  for  Mrs.  Wharburton,  I  have  answered  your  inqui- 
ries as  to  my  visit  in  the  cmintri/. 

I  have  nobody  to  take  this,  so  I  must  leave  it  myself  ; 
but  I  cannot  conclude  this  little  volume  (as  I  hope  at  last 
you  will  allow  this  is)  without  recurring  again  to  a  question 
you  don't  choose  to  answer  me  plainly.  I  beseech  yon  to 
tell  me  expressly  and  explicitly  whether  yoii  have  any 
Author — designs,  and  whether  you  intend  to  turn  Love  and 
Literature  into  i\Ianuscripts  and  Money.  I  want  very 
much  to  have  a  clear  and  definite  answer  to  this  enquiry. 

I  have  heard  no  more  yet  of  the  Borough,  but  me  have 
the  same  (i.  e.  very  strong)  reason  to  be  tolerably  assured  of 
it.  Oh  !  these  are  moments  when  I  absolutely  sicken  at 
the  thoughts  of  the  struggle  before  me.  But  you,  Eose, 
are  at  once  ''my  motive  and  my  meed." 

I  suppose  Miss  Landon  is  writing  away  her  short  fingers 
to  force  the  golden  violet  into  bloom  this  cold  weather. 
Talking  bye-the-byc,  of  Authoresses  and  that  sort  of  people, 
don't  you  think,  considering  the  blueness  of  her  inclina- 
tions and  the  yellowness  of  her  face — that  the  *'  Golden 
Violet "  would  be  a  very  good  name  for  Miss  Spence  ? 
And  now,  my  dearest,  I  must  Avish  you  good-bye.  Keep 
yourself  well  for  my  sake,  and  pray  let  me  know  how  you 
are  to-morrow  as  early  as  you  can.  Adieu,  my  life  and 
love  ;  you  are  all,  all  to  me  upon  earth.     Ever,  ever  your's. 

E.  L.  B. 

Dream  of  me.     I  shall  kiss  you  in  my  sleep  to-night. 


248  Lord  Lyttoiis  Letters, 


CXLIII. 

To  Miss  "Wheeler,  Somerset  Street. 
[Murray's  offer  for  the  "  Satire."] 

My  Adored  Love, — I  iim  better  to-night  and  longing  to 
hear  from  you.  I  went  to  Murray  and  l)ad  a  very  long 
chat  with  him  upon  various  things,  Lydia  White,  Byron, 
Ugo  Foscolo,  etc.,  etc.  My  brilliant  plan  be  did  not  think 
much  of  ;  but  offered  me  £50  for  the  "  Satire."  I  shall 
not,  however,  dispose  of  it. 

Pray  tell  tne  how  you  arc.  Do  keep  yourself  free  from 
change  of  atmosphere,  and  nurse  your  cough.  Perhaps  we 
may  meet  yet,  if  00  gets  well  before  I  leave  Town,  which  I 
am  advised  to  do  directly  I  am  able.  I  don't  know,  Rose, 
why  it  so  often  happens  that  when  we  feel  most  we  wiite 
coldest.  I  am  at  this  instant  longing  more  for  you  than  I 
ever  did,  and  yet  I  feel  as  if  I  could  not  say  one  passionate 
or  fond  word.  Perhaps  you  can  explain  this.  I  am  too 
indisposed  to  think.  I  have  again  looked  over  your  part 
of  the  book,  and  am  more  and  more  charmed  with  it. 
Adieu  !    Ever  most  devotedly, 

Your  own  Puppy. 

\Thc  letter  loliich  accompanied  the  following  Poems  is 
missing.     See,  however,  next  letter.'] 

*'  Immota  tenehat  Lumina.'* 

As  when  at  Freedom's  sacred  call 
The  Sailor  tempts  the  raging  sea, 

Nor  fears  to  truijt  his  life,  his  all, 
To  the  wide  Ocean's  clemency  I 


Lord  Lyttons  Letters.  249 

Tho'  smiling  o'er  the  wat'iy  waj' 
Bright  Fancy  spreads  lier  golden  ray  ; 
Yet  still  the  sad  and  moist'ning  eye 
Will  ling'ring  view  his  native  sky, 
And  swiftly,  as  in  wanton  pride 
His  vessel  spurns  the  foaming  tide ; 
He  sighs  1  to  think  he  ne'er,  as  then, 
May  view  that  much  lov'd  sky  again, 
So  now,  Harrovia,  ling'ring  still, 
I  gaze  upon  thy  sacred  hill  ; 
And  sigh,  to  think  life's  boist'rous  sea 
Will  bear  me  soon  so  far  from  thee  1 
O  could  I,  Science,  e'er,  as  now, 

While  straying  'mid  the  classic  shades 
Which  crown  thy  cloud-encircled  brow, 

Woo  the  fair,  Pierian  maids, 
And  only  catch  at  Nature's  sunlike  rays 
Thro'  the  pent  focus  of  some  glittering  phrase. 

But  thou — whose  Soul  was  drunk  with  the  intense 
Sublimity  of  Nature — how  from  these 

Most  subtle  shadows  of  an  erring  sense 
We  turn  to  mingle  with  thy  melodies 
Our  thoughts — our  tears — our  spirits — till  we  grow 
Link'd  to  thy  page  by  man's  most  kindred  union — woe! 
The  moralizing  Sage  wh'>m  Shakespeare  drew 

Found  food  for  thought  and  images  for  man 
In  the  green  forest — well  the  wizard  knew 

The  least  leaf  hath  a  lesson — and  the  plan 
That  yields  as  wisdom  in  the  City's  crowd 

Will  lead  us  ofttimes  to  the  Ibenly  hill. 
Noise  makes  not  knowledge  !  and  the  clamour  loud 
At  naught  avails  not  those  who  love  to  think 
Like  one  lone  hour  when  in  themselves  they  shrink 

To  commune  with  their  own  hearts — and  be  still. 
This  is  a  holy  precept — yet  not  so 

Thought  the  sententious  sophist  who  hath  writ 
"The  friend  of  solitude  is  virtue's  foe" — 

For  lie  was  of  the  Frenchman's  school  wh  joint 
Some  morals  with  false  maxims,  which  dismiss 

Truth  by  a  sentence — reason  by  a  point, 
And  solve  a  problem  by  Antithesis 

Worsliipping  Wisdom  in  whate'er  is  wit 


250  Lord  Lyttons  Letters. 

Which  dream  deep  knowledge  of  the  heart  is  fraught 
"  In  that  uunieaning  thing  the}'  call  a  thought." 
'Twould  be,  in  such  a  calm  retreat, 

Too  heav'nl}-  blest,  for  aj'e  to  stray  ; 
'Twould  be  too  sweet,  too  heav'nly  sweet. 

To  linger  thus  Life's  morn  away  1 
Fancy  with  her  magic  pow'r 
May  garnish  many  a  coming  hour, 
And  point  to  many  a  time  like  this, 
Of  future  and  unequalled  bliss  ! 
But  Mera'ry  loves  to  haunt  the  scene, 
Wiiere  former  happiness  has  been  ; 
And  oft  "mid  Life's  entangled  maze 
Will  turn  to  seek  those  halcyon  days. 
When  careless  youth  with  joy  coidd  view 
Each  festive  sport  (for  cacli  was  new) ; 
When  care  was  but  a  transient  guest. 

And  every  moment's  sole  employ. 
To  wake  the  ever  feeling  breast, 

To  taste  some  unexperienced  joy  I 
And  art  thou  gone,  thy  lustre  dead, 

Are  all  thy  fairy  pleasures  o'er  ! 
Oh  childhood,  are  thy  fancies  fled  ! 

And  wilt  thou  charm  indeed  no  more  I 
Yes  ;  thou  and  all  thy  dreams  are  gone, 
Life's  sunshine,  Innocency's  dawn  ! 
And  all  that  now  remains  of  thee, 
Oh,  age  of  Sweet  Simplicity, 
Is  but,  (how  lov'd  its  treasur'd  tone  I) 
The  echo  of  the  bliss  that's  flown  ! 
Nor  may  I  more  with  yon  gay  crew. 

The  helm  to  buoyant  pleasure  give ; 
And  mischief's  wanton  way  pursue, 

As  frolic's  gales  inviting  drive  ; 
No  more  may  stay  where  light-brained  sport, 

And  buxom  health  each  evening  meet  ; 
While  youth,  in  ilebe's  noisy  court, 

With  graceful  bound,  and  tripping  feet, 
Is  often  by  the  twilight  seen 
To  lead  young  laughter  o'er  the  green. 


Lord  Lyttons   Letters.  251 

Oh  dearest  scenes  !  (yet  dear  in  vain — 

Where  musing  science  loves  to  dwell ; 
And  ye,  her  ever  festive  train, 

Receive  this  lingering,  last  farewell  I 
And  oh  !  may  Fortune's  fav'ring  power 

On  you  each  vvish'd  for  blessing  shed  ; 
And  wealth,  and  fame,  and  honors  show'r, 

O'er  each  much  loved  Companion's  head. 
And  ye,  who  warm  this  soul  divine. 
With  virtues  flame,  at  Learning's  shrine, 
Farewell  !  and,  oh,  when  far  away, 

I  stray  o'er  Camus'  sedgy  shore  : 
'Twill  soothe  my  sail,  the  while  I  stray, 

To  think  ye've  strayed  there  oft  before. 
My  muse's  pension  task  is  done, — 
Farewell  !  and  give  a  sigh  for  one. 
Who,  whatsoe'er  his  faults,  will  yet 
Your  worth  and  kindness  ne'er  forget ; 
And  Fancy  to  his  soul  will  bear 
That  sigh,  and  memory  fix  it  there  ! 

CXLIV. 

To  Miss  Wheelek,  40,  Somerset  Street. 
[Blue  Devils.] 

My  Beautiful  Rose, — why  did  yoti  write  so  shortly 
to-day  ?  Fie  !  00  deserve  to  be  well  bitten  !  Did  you 
take  your  criterion  from  the  length  of  my  letters  ?  If  so, 
you  erred  greatly,  because  you  did  not  take  into  considera- 
tion all  that  blessed  heap  of  jioetry,  which  ought  to  have 
been  repaid  20  lines  for  one,  which,  love,  you  will  allow  is 
about  tiie  difference  of  time  required  between  the  two. 
You  are  right,  the  last  poem  is  much  the  best  :  the  first  is 
mere  verbiage  ;  the  second  has  thoughts  which  might  be 
polished  into  something  greatly  better ;  the  third  is 
inspired  by  00.  Don't  you  admire,  Rose,  my  manoeuvre  in 
giving  that  termination  of  your  name,  which  I  never 
apply  to  you,  to  your  poetical   cognomen  ?    Don't  ask 


252  Lord  Lyttons   Letters, 

fiboiit  the  lionse — a  new  difficulty  just  in  the  moment  of 
completion  lias  started.  I  am  determined  of  one  thing  : 
"  aut  viam  inteniam  mit  faciam,"  as  I  once  before  said.  I 
am  unwell  to-night  (not  very,  tho',  love),  and  terribly  blue- 
devilled,  and  you  must  forgive  my  leaving  off  ;  and  yet  I 
cannot  do  so  till  I  have  expressed  my  most  earnest  hope 
and  wish  that  your  cold  is  better.  Do  let  me  know  about* 
you.  I  wish  you  would  not  get  colds  and  be  unwell,  for 
it  makes  me  very,  very  uneasy.  Were  you  at  Howell  and 
James's  to-day,  and  Avliat  time  ?  God  bless  you,  my  dear, 
dear  love  !     Ten  thousand  thousand  [kisses].     Adieu  ! 

E.  L.  B. 

CXLV. 

To  Miss  Wheeler,  40,  Somerset  Street. 

[Colburn. — "  Falkland."] 

No,  My  own  darling,  I  am  not  angry  with  00  ;  and  go's 
a  nice  Poodle  for  writing  to  me  so  pretty  a  letter.  Any 
time  to-morrow — one  o'clock  in  Portman  Square,  or  any 
other  place  you  like  to  fix  will  do.  Let  me  know.  I  will 
write  you  a  longer  letter  in  the  evening.  At  present  I  am 
just  going  to  Colburn's,  being  in  an  inexpressible  fury 
about  a  notice  of ''Falkland  "  in  the  Morning  Chonicle. 
Would  to  God  there  was  no  necessity  for  the  degradations 
of  this  publishing!  I  am  so  sick  and  disgusted,  I  can 
scarcely  command  one  spark  of  my  temper.  Woe  to  Mr. 
Colburn  if  I  do  get  in  a  rage  !  As  it  is,  he  shall  never, 
never  publish  for  me  again  :  there's  a  threat  for  00  !  "Falk- 
laiul,"  by  the  way,  is  but  ricketty  offspring — I  see  it  does 
not  succeed  and  nobody  likes  it.  That  I  don't  care  about ; 
but  the  puff  in  the  Chronicle  is  too  galling.  I  will  write  you 
more  in  the  evening ;  at  present  I  am  out  of  humour  and 
going  out  of  doors. 

Zoo  OWN  Publishing  Puppy. 


Lord  Ly lion's  Letters.  253 


CXLVl. 

[Disgrace  to  have  been  Lord  Byroa's  friend. — Critique  on  "  Falli- 
land  "  in  the  Chronicle.] 

My  Dearest  Darling  Love  And  Poodle, — I  wrote  you 
this  morning  iu  haste  and  ill  temper,  and  therefore  zoo 
must  excuse  "all  faults  in  composition."  Since  then  I 
have  seen  and  spoke  to  Oilier,  whom  I  very  much  dislike. 
He  says  "  Falkland"  sells  very  well,  and  has  promised  me 
to  contradict  the  report  in  the  Chronicle,  which  was  the 
following — "  Falkland,"  a  tale  founded  on  a  recent  &c.,  is, 
we  understand,  written  by  a  friend  of  L^  Byron's  who  dis- 
tinguished himself  last  j^ear  by  an  interesting  work  relating 
to  Greece."  I  am  exccssibly  indignant  at  this ;  firstly, 
because  it  w<^  in  my  opinion  have  been  a  great  disgrace  to 
have  been  L^*  B.'s  friend  ;  secondly,  because  the  notice 
implies  L<1  Byron  was  y®  hero,  which  \^^  have  been  too 
Caroline-Lambish  a  great  deal  ;  thirdl}^  I  am  offended  at 
the  idea  of  ever  having  written  on  Greece,  a  subject  so 
canted  upon  and  degraded ;  fourthly,  I  am  outrageous  at 
the  whole  nature  of  the  puff  itself,  w^  rests  the  success  of 
the  work  not  on  its  merit,  but  on  circumstances  so  per- 
fectly meretricious.  Pray  my  own  darling  Poodle,  what 
time  shall  we  meet  to-morrow  ?  I  don't  like  to  tell  00,  my 
own  pretty  and  kind  love,  but  I  am  very  ill,  and  am  ordered 
to  leave  Town  immediately  and  undergo  strict  regimen — 
exercise  and  medicine. 

My  heart  wears  me  to  death — nevertheless,  I  intend  to 
follow  my  own  plan,  and  am  certain  of  soon  recovering. 
Zoo's  an  angel,  and  a  love,  and  a  Poodle,  to  write  to  me  so 
kindly,  and  I  feel  it  sensibly,  for  I  fear  I  was  a  traitor  to 
my  own  heart,  and  did  not  deliver  its  messages  faithfully 
in  my  last  letters.     G.ood-bye,  my  angel,  darling,  love,  my 


254  Lord  Lyttons  Letters. 

adored  Rose,  my  beautiful  Poodle,  and  may  God  unite  us 
soon,  Mivart's. 

Zoo  OWN  Puppy. 
I  open  my  letter  to  tell  oo  again  that  co  is  a  darling, 
that  1  do  doat  on  oo,  and  pray  God  to  bless  oo,  whatever 
becomes  of  me. 

OXLVIL 

To  Miss  Wheeleb. 

[The  Baronetcy.] 

My  Dearest  Darling  Little  Dog, — At  last  I  do  send  oo 
books,  and  with  many  thanks  for  the  loan.  I  intended  to 
have  met  oo  at  Miss  Hayter's  to-day  ;  but  woke  very  ill  and 
continued  so  till  3  or  4  o'clock,  being  exceedingly  faint  and 
in  great  pain  from  my  heart.  A  ride  into  the  country  made 
me  considerably  better,  and  I  am  now  quite  well.  1'hank 
00  my  prettiest  Poodle  for  telling  me  what  Miss  Fawcett 
said  of  00.  Me  owns  me  is  proud  of  oo,  and  me  is  very 
glad  to  hear  of  oo  being  admired,  for  which  oo  may  sneer 
at  he-dogs  and  their  attachment,  if  oo  please  ;  but  it  is  a 
proof  of  Puppy's  adoration  of  oo.  The  country  look  booti- 
ful — so  green  and  summer-like.  Ah,  Poodle  !  me  cannot 
write  to  oo  any  more,  as  me  has  so  much  to  do.  Perhaps 
me  sail  see  oo  at  Miss  Hayter's  to-morrow.  Adieu,  my 
dearest  and  most  bootif  ul  Poodle.  Me  has  lent  oo  Uncle's 
Life  to  my  Mother.  Me'll  tell  oo  all  about  the  Baronetcy 
to-morrow. 

Zoo  owis"  owi^"  owH  Heakt's  Puppy. 


Lord  Lyttons   Letters.  255 

'CXLVIII. 
'To  Miss  Wheeler. 

[Miss  Hayter.] 

My  Dearest  And  Most  Darling  Rose, — I  do  assure  00 
that  I  was  not  angry  with  00  ;  but  I  was  rather  unwell,  and 
this  morning  my  heart  pains  me  a  little.  But  never  mind, 
my  dear  love  and  Poodle,  do  not  make  ooself  unhappy.  As 
to  my  love  for  00,  I  should  indeed  be  a  wretch  if  I  did  not 
adore  00,  which  God  knows  I  do  to  excess.  I  will  come  to 
Miss  Hayter's  a  little  before  one,  in  order  to  walk  home 
with  00.  My  own  darling,  one  word  from  00  lips  w"^  con- 
vince me  of  anything. 

Zoo  own  own 

Adoring  Puppy. 

CXLIX. 

To  Miss  Wheeler. 

[The  present  age  duped  by  Canning.— Letters  from  Mrs.  Wheeler 
and  Sir  P.  Doyle.] 

My  Darling  Love, — My  prettiest  and  most  sagacious  and 
most  sensible  Poodle  that  ever  stood  on  two  legs  and  begged 
for  a  bone  !  My  darling,  my  life,  my  booty,  how  does  00 
do  ?  Me  has  just  dined  and  is  just  going  to  ride  ;  but  my 
servant  will  leave  this,  and  should  he  not  be  able  to  wait  for 
an  answer,  00  can  send  it  whenever  00  likes  it.  Write  to- 
night and  send  it  to-morrow,  for  00  must  not  and  sail  not 
write  of  a  morning,  till  00  is  quite  quite  well. 

Me  sends  00  a  letter  from  Mr.  Oilier.  Is  it  not  too 
absurd — tlie  criticism,  I  mean  ?  As  for  the  parts  ho  pro- 
fesses to  think  fine,  they  arc  in  that  horrid  modern  llash 
shewy  style,  which  stamps  his  taste  at  once.     He   would 


256  Lord  Lyttons  Letters. 

have  shewn  real  criticism,  had  he  praised  one  or  two  more 
quiet  passages,  but  as  Keppel  justly  observed  "  One's  pet 
passages  nobody  remarks" — I  suppose  in  accordance  with 
the  proverb  *'  A  favourite  has  no  friends." 

My  most  bootiful  love,  how  me  does  love  and  doat  on 
00  !  Ah  !  well,  well,  well !  Patientia  fit  levius  quicquid 
corrigum  est  nefas. 

All  the  people  about  me  are  talking  of  Mr.  Canning. 
What  an  ?(wtalked-of  being  he  will  be  50  years  hence  !  but 
he  is  wise  to  dupe  the  present  age,  rather  than  the  future. 
It  is  the  only  Debtor  wiiich  pays,  and  if  one  pleases  it,  one 
gets  unlimited  credit.  Moreover,  to  use  four  lines  of  my 
friend  the  "Rebel"— 

"  lu  the  game  of  Earth 
Who  wins  takes  all,  fame,  honour,  wisdom,  worth, 
And  from  the  wings  of  time,  our  fortune  shakes 
Whate'er  wd  vary  from  the  name  she  makes." 

Well,  darling,  good-bye  !  Sleep  well,  and — yes,  00  may 
to-night — dream  of  00  own  Puppy  who  loves  00  as  much 
as  it  is  possible  for  human  beings  to  love  women  in  the 
present  state  they  hold  in  Society. 

Zoo  Own  Puppy. 

Thank  you  ten  million,  million  times  for  your  letter. 
I  will  not  vex  myself  about  you,  nor  anything  else.  But 
since  I  am,  and  was,  dear  to  you,  take  all  possible  care  of 
yourself.      Heaven  bless  and  reward  you  ! 

E.  L.B. 

I  enclose  your  mother's  £ind  Sir  F.  Doyle's  letters  to  me. 
I  had  written  the  enclosed  when  your  kind  dear  note 
came. 


Lord  Lyttons  Letters,  257 


CL. 

To  Miss  Wheeler,  40,  Somerset  Street. 
[Houses.] 

My  Own  Darling  Angel  Poodle, — Me  is  going  out  to 
dine  in  the  City  and  shall  not  be  home  till  very  late,  so  mc 
cannot  write  to  00  to-night  ;  but  pray,  if  00  Uncle  be  out 
wiien  me  calls  about  3  o'clock  or  }4  past  3,  cannot  me  see 
00  ?  Mcthinks  me  can  ask  for  00  without  any  impro- 
priety. 

Let  me  know,  pretty  Poodle.  Me  has  been  seeing 
about  our  kennels  all  the  morning,  which  me  will  tell  00 
about  when  me  calls,  i.  c.  if  me  sees  00  ;  and  if  mc  does 
not  see  00,  me'll  try  and  write  a  line  or  two  before  me  goes 
to  dinner.  Me's  going  to  see  Miss  Hayter,  and  to  make 
several  visits  in  the  course  of  the  day.  Me  did  not  go  to 
the  Opera  last  night,  for  me  would  wait  till  me  had  00 
letter,  and  then  it  was  too  late.  GiA^e  me  one  line,  my 
angel  doggy,  to  say  if  me  can  ask  for  00  ;  and  farewell  ! 

Zoo  Own  Puppy. 

CLI. 

To  Miss  R.  Wheeler,  40,  Somerset  Street. 

["  The  Rebel." — "  Pclham." — Change  of  name. — Interest  to  procure 
the  baronetcy.] 

My  Own  Darling  Poodle,  My  Beautiful  Little  Dog, — 
How  does  00  do  ?  Ah  !  me  wishes  00  was  here,  that  mo 
might  kics  00,  zoo  prettiest  of  jorctty  loves  ! 

Me  has  been  writing  the  greater  part  of  the  day,  and 
me  has  just  come  in  from  dinner  in  order  to  send  this  to  00 
and  then  to  write  again. 


258  Lord  Lyttons  Letters. 

Me  shan't  alter  the  "  Rebel/'  darling — at  least  not  in 
story;  but  it  takes  mo  much  more  time  and  wearies  me 
mucli  more  to  alter  a  line  here  and  there  than  to  write  the 
whole  passage  over  again.  Me  can't  get  on  wiih  "Mr. 
Pelham  "  at  all  to  my  liking  ;  however,  thank  Heaven  !  he 
can  make  his  own  way  without  much  assistance  l\\m\  any 
one  else. 

Me  cannot  tell  00,  darling,  how  me  doats  on  00  more 
and  more  every  day  and  hour  !  Me  called  on  me  Mother 
to-day  ;  but  she  was  not  in  the  very  best  of  humours,  and 
so  me  came  away  without  talking  a  great  deal  to  her  on 
certain  subjects. 

Sir  Geoi'ge  Naglerhas  sent  me  a  paper  to  sign  relative  to 
the  change  of  name.  Before  me  does  it,  me  wants  00  to 
conquer  00  dislike  to  Baronets,  for  me  thinks  it  vv'ould  be 
much  better  to  become  one  than  to  change  one's  name,  and 
me  wants  to  know  if  00  thinks  00  Uncle  would  join  his 
interest  to  ours  in  trying  to  get  it.  Do  let  me  know  ;  me's 
sure  oo'll  conquer  00  own  dislike  to  the  thing,  darling, 
when  me  tells  00  that  me  hag  thought  over  it  very  seriously 
and  for  a  long  time,  and  me  thinks  it  exceedingly  advisable, 
if  indeed  it  be  possible  to  obtain  it. 

Oh  Zoo  beautiful  love,  has  00  been  to  Miss  Hayter  to- 
day ?  Let  me  know  ;  me's  burning  so  to  hear  what  00  has 
to  tell  me.  Me  does  hope — but  me  won't  say  anything  till 
me  hears  from  00  own  lips  all  about  it.  Me  sends  my  own 
Poodle  the  books  she  wished  to  have  back,  and  me  begs 
her  to  sleep  well. 

Puppy. 


Lord  Lyttons  Letters,  259 


CLII. 

To  Miss  Wheelek,  40,  Somerset  Street. 
[Miss  Hayter's  portrait.] 

Poodle's  Supper. 

My  Darling  Angel,  My  Bootiful  Poodle, — Me's  so  very, 
very,  very,  very,  very  liappy,  for  me  has  got  00  picture, 
and  it's  so  much  more  like  00  than  it  was  ;  and  mc's  going 
to  take  it  to  bed  and  kiss  it  all  night.  Oh  !  me's  so  happy, 
and  the  expression's  so  feeling  and  so  true,  and  eyes  look 
so  kind,  and  there's  such  a  bootiful  smile  on  the  lips,  and 
ti.ere's  such  a  nice  modest  look  about  it  which  puts  me  in 
mind  of  some  "  odd  "  question  or  other  of  mine.  Oh,  zoo 
booty  ! 

Me's  going  out  of  Town  on  Saturday  to  look  at  Chalfont 
Park,  w**  me  thinks  me  shall  certainly  take  for  a  year — i.  e., 
if  it  is  at  all  a  nice  place.  Me  called  on  W™  for  an  hour  or 
two,  and  met  my  Mother  there,  who,  not  being  very  warm 
or  cordial,  I  did  not  say  much  to.  Me's  so  hungry  for  a 
letter  from  00  ;  me  hopes  so  that  it  will  be  a  nice  long  one  ; 
me  does  love  00  so — so — SO.  Ah  !  zoo  Booty  !  zoo  per- 
fectest  darlingest  Poodle  !  Miss  Hayter  has  got  00  mouth 
now  exactly  ;  the  more  me  looks  at  it  the  more  me  kisses 
it.  How  me  will  make  00  kiss  it,  00  darling  self,  some  time 
or  other.  Yes,  my  prettiest,  I  hope  in  a  month  we  shall 
be  in  the  same  kennel.  There  Miss  Poodle,  jump  out  of  00 
skin  for  joy.  Sleep  well,  and  dream  of  00  own  adoring 
fond  doating  idolater.  Puppy. 

Must  conclude  with  assuring  you  that  me  does  unceas- 
ingly adore 

King — Puppy,  00  own  own  Puppy. 


26o  Lord  Lyttons  Letters, 


CLIII. 

To  Miss  Wheeler. 
[Bitterness  of  Spirit.—"  The  Rebel."] 

My  Darling,  Darling  Love, — My  heart  has  been  smit- 
ing me  ever  since  I  saw  you,  for  Iiaving  suffered  the  vexa- 
tion and  bitterness  of  spirit  I  felt  to  appear  ;  for  me  knows 
GO  thought  me  cold,  wht  n  me  was  only  sad.  Ah,  Rose  ! 
will  always  have  thorns  till  mo  has  oo. 

I  write  in  a  liurry,  for  it  has  struck  nine,  and  I  liave  all 
this  horrid  "  Rebel "  to  look  over  and  send  to  Oilier.  I 
have  also  an  impertinent  letter  from  my  critic,  wanting  to 
prove  to  me  Yivci  voce  that  my  poem  is  good  for  nothing. 
Do  my  own  darling,  give  me  one  word  to  say  how  oo  is  ;  it 
Avill  be  like  a  west  wind  to  this  feverish  and  withered  state 
of  feeling  I  am  in.  Me  has  given  up  the  intention  of  going 
out  of  Town  ;  so  make  ooself  easy.  And  now,  my  own 
angel  Poodle,  I  must  say  farewell,  and  may  God  bless  ray 
Angel,  watch  and  visit  oo  to  night. 

Puppy. 

CLIV. 
To  Miss  Wheeler. 

["  The  Rebel  "  finished.— With  his  mother.] 

My  Own  Darling  Angel  Poodle, — How  does  oo  do  ?  So 
me  caw  oo  !  A  good  Angel  whispered  me  to  pass  by  oo 
street,  and  there  was  my  own  iingel,  my  own  Seraph  of  the 
7th  Heaven,  my  dog  star,  my  booty.  Well,  me  finished  the 
"  Rebel  "by  a  lucky  hit  about  2  past  2,  sent  it  off  instantly 
to  Colburn,  Mounted  my  horse  and  rode  into  the  Park  ; 
from  thence  me  came  home,  drest  for  dinner,  and  went  to 


Lord  Lyttons   Letters.  261 

my  Mother.  Henry  dined  tlicre  too,  but  I  sent  Lim  away 
and  had  a  long  conversation  with  my  Mother  about  00  ! 
From  thence  me  went  to  W^^.,  and  here  me  is  now,  in  doubt 
whether  or  no  me  shall  go  to  tiie  Ojiera.  My  own  pretty 
darling  must  go  to  bed  to-night,  and  sleep  well  and  sound, 
and  dream  of  Puppy,  and  not  be  nauglity  as  she  was  last 
night. 

Me  is  going  to  call  on  Miss  Hayter  to-morrow  to  have  a 
small  frame  put  to  00  darling  picture,  for  it  is  too  large  to 
wear.  Me  would  send  it  00  to  look  at,  but  cannot  trust  it. 
Good-bye,  zoo  prettiest  of  pretty  loves. 

Ever  zoo  own  own 

Owif  Puppy. 

CLV. 

To  Miss  Wheeler,  40,  Somerset  Street,  Portman  Square. 

[Duke  of  Bt.  Albans  and  Mrs.  Coutts. — Dines  with  bis  Mother,  and 
then  goes  to  the  Play.] 

^ly  Own  Darling  Angel  Poodle,  My  Sweetest  And  Dear- 
est Love, — Many  thanlcs  for  00  letter,  which  found  me  at 
dinner.  Our  friends  not  having  come,  I  and  Henry  were 
enacting  the  parts  of  the  Coblers  Solus.  Me  has  just  dined 
now,  and  therefore  me  immediately  sits  down  to  indite  this 
precious  epistle  to  00.  After  leaving  00,  me  went  to  the 
Regent's  Park,  and  road  saunteringly  enough  along  its 
melancholy  rides  for  about  an  hour  and  a  half.     I  met  Mrs. 

Coutts  and  the  Duke  of  St.  A in  a  large  open  carriage 

i'.s  big  as  herself.  The  poor  Duke  looked  misery  itself  ;  he 
must  however  have  one  consolation  in  the  midst  of  all  his 
misfortunes,  viz.,  that — Me  will  come  earlier  if  possible 
to-morrow,  as  me  dines  with  my  Mother  at  ^2  P^^st  4  and 
goes  to  the  Play. 

Poor  little  Fanny  is  staying  here,  and  shall  sleep  all  de 
niglit  in  de  same  room,  not  kennel,  as  her  brother.     My 


262  Lord  Lyt ton's  Letters. 

I)rettiest  little  Poodle,  00  did  not  vex  me  for  more  than  a 
minute,  and  me  was  only  vexed  because  00  seemed  to  think 
slightly  of  me,  and  me  likes  00  too  well  not  to  wish  00  to 
esteem  me.  Me  is  so  glad  00  going  to  take  a  drive ;  me 
does  hope  so  it  will  do  00  good.  And  now,  my  own  dearest 
of  little  dogs,  good  night !  and  God  bless  00  and  make  00 
quite  well  is  the  most  earnest  and  heartfelt  hope  and  wish 
of  00  own  devoted 

Puppy. 
CLVI. 

To  Miss  R.  P.  Wheelek,  40,  Somerset  Street. 
[Vauxball. — Soup  and  Quails.] 

My  Dearest  Rosey  Poodle, — My  royal  paw  is  better,  and 
me  is  listening  with  great  attentit)n  to  "  Isabel  "  which  two 
fiddlers  and  a  bag-pipe  are  playing  under  my  window. 
Villiers  is  reading  the  Globe.  Zoo  ought  to  see  me  nursing 
my  wounded  paw  on  my  lap,  and  pricking  up  my  ears  at 
the  music,  like  a  puppy  as  me  is.  ]\Ie  fears  me  sail  not  go 
to  Yauxhall  to-night,  for  a  very  good  reason,  viz.,  that  there 
will  be  no  Vauxhall  to  go  to,  but  me  shall  go  somewhere, 
where  there  will  be  no  walking  and  much  sitting. 

How  has  Prettiest  dined  ;  me  has  been  eating  Sonp  and 
Quails,  and  me  is  looking  so  jiretty  that  me  wishes  00  c'^ 
kiss  me.  God  bless  00  my  own  own  angel,  and  may  00 
sleep  well  and  he  well  and  dream  well  of  00  own 

LiTTLEBOY  Puppy. 

CLVII. 

To  Miss  Wheelee. 

[Ear-ache.] 

My  Own  Darling  Angel. — Zoo  is  too  pretty  a  Poodle  to 
send  me  such  a  nice  note  !  My  paw  is  now  quite  well  ;  but 
my  ear  aches  so  that  I  have  sent  for  a  Dr.     Me  is  going  to 


Lord  Lyttons   Letters.  263 

see  my  Mother  to-day,  so  me  docs  not  know  how  far  me  sail 
be  able  to  get  to  00  before  one  ;  but  me  will  soon  as  me  can. 
Zoo  dear,  dear,  dear  darling  !  How  very  unhappy  00  makes 
me  about  00  side.  Do,  for  Heaven's  sake,  have  some  other 
Dr.  I  implore  00,  my  own  love,  do.  Who  will  00  have? 
Let  us  consult  when  me  comes  to  00.     Meanwhile  me  is  00 

Own  own  DoATiNa  Puppy. 

CLVIII. 

To  Miss  Wheeler. 

["  The  Rebel."—"  Falkland."—"  Weeds."] 

My  Dearest  And  Darlingest  Poodle, — I  am  too  sorry  I 
cannot  get  the  "  Rebel ";  the  sheets  are  not  even  struck 
off  yet,  and  I  fear  not  even  one  Copy  could  be  procured  in 
less  than  a  week.  I  will,  however,  take  care  she  has  one  as 
soon  as  possible.  In  the  meanwhile,  thinking  she  may  not 
have  a  copy  of  "  Falkland  "  and  the  "Weeds,"  etc.,  I  have 
sent  you  one  of  each,  which  you  can  send  or  not  as  you 
please. 

Ever,  my  own  angel. 

Zoo  OWN  Puppy. 

I  shall  be  with  you  hefore  one.  Just  write  a  line  to  00 
Mother,  saying  anything  kind  on  my  part.  I  am  so  very, 
sleepy  or  would  myself. 

CLIX. 

To  Miss  Wheeler,  40,  Somerset  Street. 

[Walter  Scott. — Comparison  with  Byron.] 

My  Beautiful  And  Dai-ling  Angel, — I  have  written  to 
00  Uncle  to  say  that  I  shall  dine  with  him  to-morrow.  As 
for  me,  all  this  long  day  I  have  been  riding,  driving,  and 
walking,  till  I  am  quite  tired.  Zoo  is  a  naughty  Poodle  for 
writing  to  me  in  the  morning  and  me  is  is  angry  with  00 


264  Lord  Lyttons   Letters. 

for  it,  because  00  must  have  lost  00  sleep  in  order  to  do  it. 
And  00  loss  is  my  loss,  and  mc  does  not  wish  it  to  be  my 
gain.  There's  a  Cowley-like  expression  for  00  !  No,  my 
sagacious  Poodle,  no,  mo  does  not  wish  00  to  be  a  bit  more 
stupid  than  00  is  [gallant,  quoth  Poodle];  but  me  wants 
to  have  only  the  perfections,  not  the  faults,  of  cloavcr 
women.  Me  wants  the  Companion,  not  the  Caviller  or 
Contradictor,  which  me  thinks  clever  women  generally 
become  when  the  Mistress  grows  into  the  Wife,  and  me 
thinks  00  has  a  certain  independence  of  character  which 
belies  00  softness  of  temper  and  even  00  love  for  me.  But 
me  won't  talk  of  this  now,  prettiest. 

I  shall  see  00  to-morrow — Ah  !  those  are  moments 
steeped  in  the  Elixir  of  Life  which  are  past  with  00.  Oo  is 
like  the  Venus  de  Medici ;  and  charms  the  very  air  with  00 
booty,  intoxicating  one's  senses  with  an  atmosphere  of 
breathing  divinity,  which — but  me  must  not  go  on,  least 
me  should  get  fine  and  Falklandish.  llenry  has  been 
reading  some  of  Scott's  poeti-y  to  me.  How  very  magnifi- 
cent his  spirit  of  the  conception  is — pity  that  the  body  he 
clothes  it  in  should  be  of  such  rude  and  common  clay  ! 
He  draws  men  best  in  action,  Byron  in  repose.  One  is  the 
Hercules  killing  the  Hydra,  the  other  the  Hercules  who 
has  performed  all  his  wonders  and  rests  on  his  club.  Good- 
bye, zoo  prettiest,  most  darling  Poodle. 

E.  B.  Puppy. 

CLX. 
To  Miss  "Wheeler. 

["Polbam."] 

My  Darling  Angel,  Beautiful  Poodle, — I  am  so  unhappy 
at  the  idea  that  you  are  so.  I  came  home  last  night,  and 
my  uneasiness  about  you  prevented  my  sleeping,  from  the 
moment  I  laid  down  to  that  in  which  I  got  up. 


Lo7'd  Lyttons  Letters.  265 

My  own  dearest  love,  if  you  don't  wish  me  to  be  utterly 
wretched.  Keep  up  00  spirits  and  take  every  possible  care 
of  ooself.  I  do  love  you  to  an  excess  I  am  ashamed  to  own 
even  to  00.  Do  slightest  hair  of  00  bootiful  curls  is  to  me 
more  precious  than  all  others  could  bestow  ;  and  it  grieves 
me  ten  thousand  times  more  to  cost  you  a  single  pang, 
than  to  suffer  any  privation  myself,  even  if  it  were  greater 
than  the  world  possibly  could  give.  Nothing  makes  me  so 
happy  as  to  fancy  that  00  is  ;  nothing  so  wretched  as  a 
single  complaint  or  despondent  expression  from  you.  My 
happiness  is  entirely  invested  in  you,  and  you  increase  or 
diminish  it  exactly  in  proportion  to  the  rise  or  full  of  00 
own.  My  prettiest  dearest  little  dog,  zoo  mistakes  my 
doctrine  about  sensible  he-dogs  very  much ;  but  mo  will 
not  talk  on  that  subject  any  more  now.  Zoo  may  be  as 
clever  as  00  pleases  ;  if  it  pleases  00,  it  will  please  me. 

Me  is  Avrititig  to  00  in  some  hurry,  for  me  wants  to  write 
100  pages  to-day  ;  and  if  me  cannot,  me  shall  not  attempt 
''  Mr.  Pelham  "  till  next  year.  How  very,  very  bootiful  00 
is,  my  Poodle  ;  and  00  large  cars,  me  is  so  greatful  for 
them  :  mo  sliall  see  how  00  looks  on  Monday,  and  then  me 
can  tell  liow  far  me  is  to  blame,  or  kiss  00  for  cutting  them 
off.  Tell  me  what  time  Frank  dines  and  what  number  of 
the  Square  he  lives  in. 

Pray  ray  own  darling,  shall  me  send  00  the  proof  of  the 
*' Rebel,"  or  would  00  like  to  wait  till  it  is  properly  and 
prettily  printed  ?  My  own  most  darling,  kind,  beautiful, 
sensible,  divine,  angel — Poodle,  good-bye  till  the  evening ! 

Puppy. 

Pray,  pray  take  care  of  ooself,  till  me  can  take  care 
of  00. 


266  Lord  LytMs  Letters. 

CLXI. 

To  Miss  Wheeler,  40,  Somerset  Street, 

[Unalloyed  grief  at  ber  growing  indifference. — The  infirmities  of  bis 

temper.] 

My  Dearest  Rose, — I  am  willing  to  malie  all  allowances 
for  you,  and  it  is  therefore  Avith  grief — very  great  and 
unalloyed  grief — and  not  anger  that  I  reflect  upon  your 
manner  to  me  to-day.  In  spite  of  what  you  say,  I  do  hope 
that  loere  aware  how  much  it  differed  from  your  usual 
behaviour  to  me,  for  I  would  much  rather  suppose  it  ]n-o- 
ceeded  from  a  momentary  anger  than  from  a  growing 
indifference.  If  it  came  from  the  latter,  it  is  useless  to  say 
a  single  word — the  affections  cannot  be  reasoned  with.  If 
the  former,  do  suffer  me  to  implore  you  to  yield  to  it  as 
little  and  as  seldom  as  the  infirmities  of  my  temjjer  will 
permit. 

I  am  extremely  sorry  that  I  cannot  procure  you  a  horso 
this  evening  ;  perhaps,  howevei- — and  Avitli  this  I  console 
myself — it  vf^  it  would  have  been  too  much  for  your  side. 
Pray  take  the  greatest  care  of  yourself  and  lie  down  as  much 
as  possible. 

Do  not  think  I  am  piqued  or  unkind  when  I  tell  you  I 
am  going  as  far  as  Watford  this  evening  (since  I  cannot 
ride  with  you)  in  order  to  pay  a  little  bill  I  owe  there.  I 
shall  return  to-morrow  before  3,  when  I  will  cull  upon  you. 
Believe  me,  my  dearest  liose,  ever  7nod  anxious  to  promote 
your  happiness,  and  only  grieved  when  I  fail.  I  am  quite 
willing  to  believe  that  your  numner  to-day  proceeded  prin- 
cipally from  some  fault  of  mine,  which  I  beg  you  to  forgive, 
and  to  believe  me.  Your  own 

Puppy. 
P.  S. — It  is _;«s^  possible  I  may  go  on  from  Watford  to 
Tring.     If  so,  I  will  write  to  you  to-morrow. 


Lord  Lyttons  Letters.  267 


CLXIL 
To  Miss  Poodleling. 

[Tring.] 

My  Dearest  And  Darlingest  Poodle, — I  had  written  the 
enclosed  and  returned  home  when  your  letter  arrived.  I 
found  a  message  had  been  left  here,  saying  that  the  owner 
of  Tring  w'*  see  me  to-morrow  at  3  ;  so  that  I  cannot  see  00 
before  4,  or  at  least  till  I  have  dismissed  him.  I  will  then 
take  my  chance  of  calling.  I  enclose  a  note  for  00  Mother  ; 
me  has  not  sealed  it,  which  00  must  therefore  do  if  00  likes 
it,  or  send  it  to  me  in  the  morning,  and  me  will.  Me  must 
now  wish  00  good-bye  and  nights.  God  bless  00,  my  own 
own  darling     Oo  poodle-loving  Puppy. 

Me  will  not  answer  00  pretty  nonsense  about  loving  me 
better.  Mo  knows  all  that  00  is  afraid  to  know.  Poodle, 
my  booty,  00  does  not  love  me  near  so  loell  as  00  did  Alas  ! 

On  second  thoughts  me  won't  send  00  Mother's  note 
now — not  till  to-morrow. 

CLXIII. 

To  Miss  Wheeler. 

[His  love  causing  her  unhappiness.] 

My  Dearest  Dearest  Love  And  Angel,  My  Own  Most 
Adored  Poodle, — You  shall  not  sec  me  look  unhappy  again. 
I  will  talk  to  00  about  those  unfortunate  looks  to-day  when 
I  call  at  one,  and  then  me  will  dismiss  them  forever;  me  is 
too  wretched  at  their  grieving  Poodle  so.  Do  not  imagine, 
my  sweetest  darling,  that  they  arise  from  any  cause  00  can 
relieve  ;  if  they  did  me  would  have  told  00  long  since.  My 
dearest,  dearest  Rose,  1  wish  to  God  that  my  love  for  00  was 


268         ■       Lord  Lyttons  Letters. 

uot  to  occasion  you  this  unliappiness,  but  me  will  repair  it 
yet.  Good-bye,  God  bless  oo.  Zoo  own  devoted  and  doat- 
ing 

Puppy. 
Me  did  not  see  Sylvia  lust  night ;  and  how,  my  i)rettiest, 
should  Puppy  have  know  her  ?     We  can  take  a  walk  to-day, 
if  00  likes,  Poodle  me's  so  sorry  oo  cannot  ride,  but  oo  shall 
to-morrow. 

Puppy. 
CLXIV. 

To  Miss  Wheeler,  40,  Somerset  Street. 
[Going  to  the  Duke  of  St.  Albans'.] 

My  Darling  Angel-Poodle, — I  write  oo  one  line,  as  oo 
wished.  Me  is  longing  to  know  how  oo  is,  and  me  is  very 
sorry  to  tell  oo,  me  cannot  ride  with  oo  to-morrow,  as  me 
cannot  have  my  horse  w*^  is  lame,  and  me  cannot  hire  the 
one  me  had  hoped  ;  but  me  will,  me  hopes,  have  one  by 
the  day  after  to-morrow.  Meanwhile  me  will  call  in  the 
morning  at  one  as  usual.  Me  is  going  to  dress,  to  go  to 
the  Duke  of  St.  Albans',  where  me  has  been  long  engaged  ; 
but  me  sail  not  go  till  me  has  oo  letter. 

Zoo  pretty  darling,  how  beautiful  oo  looked  to-day,  and 
how  beautiful  oo  really  is,  so  superhumanly  lovely  !  Well, 
good-bye,  my  darling ;  God  bless  oo. 

Oo  own 

Puppy. 
CLXV. 

To  Miss  Wheeler. 

[Cambrian  Bull. — And  to  a  Hell.] 

My  Own  Kindest  and  Darlingest  Love, — Me  is  so  very 
sorry  that  oo  Uncle  scolded  oo.  But  me  will  call  on  oo  in 
course  of  the  morning  in  order  to  kiss  oo  well.     But,  my 


Lord  Lyttons  Letters,  269 

own  booty,  there  can't  be  an  end  of  00  riding,  because  00 
can  ride  with  00  cousin  Hastings. 

Just  as  it  is  beginning  to  do  00  good,  00  must  not  think 
of  leaving  it  off  ;  but  we  will  talk  of  that  when  me  calls, 
whicli  will  be  after  mc  have  been  three  visits — to  Lady 
Caroline,  to  Cockburn,  and  to  Miss  Landon  ;  and  me 
thinks  it  will  be  3  before  me  can,  but  it  may  be  much 
earlier.  Me  did  go  to  the  Cambrian  Ball,  of  which  00  had 
a  good  deliv'rance.  Me  then  went  to  a  Hell,  and  mc  has 
only  been  in  bed  an  hour  or  two.  Well,  my  own  darlingest, 
God  bless  00  and  good-bye  for  the  present. 

Oo  OWN  Idolizing  Puppy. 

CLXVI. 

To  Miss  Wheeler. 

tComplains  of  signs  of  waning  love. — Broken  with  bim  three  times, 
— Asks  for  return  of  letters.] 

My  Own  Darling  Angel  And  Poodle, — Your  letter  has 
hurt  me  very  much.  But  perhaps  the  greatest  proof  of  a 
real  love  is  too  imagine  myself  unworthy,  and  therefore  not 
secure  of  the  affection  of  the  one  loved.  Zoo  must  know 
consequently,  that  if  I  am  not  always  thinking  of  00, 
there  must  be  times  when  I  doubt  my  so  very  great  and 
undeserved  a  blessing  as  00  Love.  Now  me  will  tell  00 
what  me  has  been  thinking  of.  In  the  first  place,  me 
thought  if  00  had  loved  me  as  me  wants  00  to  love  me,  00 
Avould  not  have  left  off  wearing  my  tokens,  when  00  had 
once  begun  to  Avear  them,  and  00  has  left  all  of  them  off  ; 
secondly,  00  would  not  yawn  when  me  speaks  to  00, 
thirdly,  00  would  not  be  so  contented  to  leave  me; 
fourthly,  00  would  see  things  more  in  the  same  light  I  do  ; 
fifthly,  00  would  not  have  broken  with  me  three  times  on 
the  most  trivial  occasions  (even  tho'  I  understand  and 
appreciate  00  inward  feeling  on  the  subject,  which  is  very 


270  Lord  Lyttons  Letters. 

noble  but  not  very  tender) ;  and  sixtlily,  00  would  not  have 
so  great  a  command  over  00  spirits  when  mc  was  away. 
Then  me  recollects  and  broods  over  very  little,  little 
things  that  00  does  not  dream  of,  such  as  00  telling  mc 
when  me  was  going  to  kiss  00,  not  to  put  00  hair  out  of 
order,  with  all  the  host  of  fears  and  doubts  which  the  self- 
torture  of  Love  always  invents.  But  as  to  ever  thinking 
00  less  divine,  that  me  never  does.  It  is  only  because  me's 
unworthy  of  00,  and  not  because  oo's  unworthy  of  me, 
that  me  ever  questions  00  love.  I  believe  00  imagines  00 
loves  me  and  that  all  the  extra  circumstances  that  oppose 
your  affection  at  present  rais  it  to  a  temporary  importance 
which  will  subside  with  the  cause,  then  me  thinks  00  too 
clever  to  love  long — clever  women  never  do;  and  then 
besides  me  looks  over  for  the  1,000,000th  time  00  letters 
and  cavils  at  a  word.  Me  found  in  a  letter  00  sent  me  to 
Knebworth  (when  we  parted,  and  thought  for  ever)  that  00 
had  looked  over  it  again  and  corrected  two  errors,  one  in  a 
date,  another  in  a  grammatical  inaccuracy,  both  of  which 
showed  a  calm  deliberation  and  self-jiossession  at  the  time 
which  me  never  felt  or  could  feel  in  such  circumstances 
How  then  could  00,  if  00  had  loved  me  as  much  as  I  do 
00  ?  But  me  is  not  so  silly  as  to  suppose  00  does  not  think 
00  loves  me — me  supposes  00  deceives  ooself,  not  me.  Me 
thinks  if  me  was  to  die,  or  if  00  was  to  send  me  away,  00 
ooself  would  be  quite  astonished  to  find  how  little  (in  com- 
parison to  what  00  imagined)  it  would  affect  00.  And 
then,  too,  me  always  feels  and  knows  how  utterly  unde- 
serving me  is  of  00,  and,  and,  and — in  short — me  torments 
myself — perhaps  without  any  reason  ;  but  still  if  I  was 
quite  confident  and  assured,  my  love  w^  be  much  less. 
And  now,  my  own  darling,  that  me  has  told  all  my 
internal  distresses,  me  must  h^g  00  to  expunge  them  by 
one  nice  kiss  at  the  top  of  00  next  letter.  And  if  00 
thinks  me  a  naughty  Puppy,  me  assures  00  that  me  has 


Lord  Lyttons  Letters.  271 

already  been  severely  punished  by  tlie  idea  that  me  has 
vexed  00 — nothing  ever  gives  me  such  pain.  Do  then, 
darling  Poodle,  let  Puppy  have  his  naughty  letter  back 
again  ;  or  else  destroy  it. 

And  so  I  shall  meet  00  to-night  ?  What  happiness  ! 
0  zoo  darling,  me  shall  be  sure  to  be  there  by  10  o'clock. 
Me  does  not  think  my  Mother  is  going  with  me;  but 
she  certainly  will  go.  Me  is  very  low  spirited  too,  and 
me  could  not  sleep  last  night,  well,  well  !  now,  love, 
darling,  angel.  Poodle — for  God's  sake  do  not  blame  00  own 
Puppy,  whose  fault  is  his  love  ;  but  give  him  one  of  00  o^vn 
sweet  kisses — even  in  a  letter.     Me'll  leave  this  myself. 

Zoo  OWN  Puppy 

CLXVII. 

To  Miss  Wheeler. 

[Villiers  in  ecstacies  about  her  beauty. — Her  silver  sweet  voice.] 

My  Dearest  And  Darlingest  Love,  My  Angel,  My  Rose, 
My  Poodle, — How  could  00  think  me  was,  or  could  be, 
angry  with  00  last  night  ?  Oo  sang  like  a  darling,  and  mc 
only  disliked  00  to  sing  "Capti  Bell,"  because  me  dislikes 
parodies  of  all  descriptions.  Oo  was  so-  bootiful  ;  never  did 
me  see  such  a  Beautified  Poodle  as  zoo  darling  of  darlings. 
Mrs.  Trotter  was  a  fool  ;  it  was  00  she  was  talking  off. 
Villiers  was  in  ecstacics  all  the  way  home  about  00  booty. 
And  what  a  silver  sweet  voice  00  has,  my  own  love  1  Me 
slept  very  ill,  and  am  not  well  dis  morning ;  but  what  is 
that  when  00  are  ill  ?  Ah,  00  poor  chest !  Pray  keep 
yourself  warm  and  take  something  like  linseed  tea, 
mucilaginous  and  healing.  Pray,  pray  do,  and  don't  exert 
yourself,  and  don't  go  out  this  cold  day.  If  I  can  call,  I 
will  ;  but  I  fear  it  is  almost  impossible,  for  me  must 
(besides  my  business)  write  that  for  Ainsworth.  Ah,  my 
<^wn  darling,  pray  for  Heaven's  sake  take  care  of  yourself, 


272  Lord  Lyttons  Letters. 

and  play  with  00  Basins  and  Ta/s*  all  de  day.     God  bless 
00,  my  Poodle  !    Good-bye  I 

Pups  Rex. 
CLXVIII. 

To  Miss  Wheeler. 

[To  the  Club  and  Almack's.] 

My  Dearest  And  Kindest  And  Most  Bootiful  Poodle, — 
Me  went  down  to  the  House  of  Lords  last  night  after 
writing  00  a  note,  and  had  the  good  fortune  to  find  it  shut ; 
me  then  went  to  my  Club  till  %  past  ten,  when  me  came  in 
to  write  to  00  again  and  found  my  servant  out  (he  had  mis- 
taken my  orders  and  thought  he  was  to  come  this  morning 
instead),  so  that  me  had  no  one  to  send  to  00,  which  vexed 
me  terribly.  However,  I  thought  00  w^  not  be  disappointed 
as  00  had  seen  me.  Me  went  to  Almack's  about  12,  and 
danced  with  00  cousin  "  Di,"  who  was  looking  very  pretty. 
Me  did  not  stay  more  than  %  of  an  hour,  for  me  was  at 
home  and  in  bed  by  one. 

Me  writes  this  from  my  kennel ;  but  I  will  write  to  00 
in  the  morning  a  more  fitting  answer  to  00  darling  letter  ; 
for  it  contained  much  which  me  cannot  answer  now,  and 
much  which  I  never  can  answer. 

Good-bye  my  darling,  my  angel,  my  life,  my  Poodle. 

Oo  OWN  Puppy. 
CLXIX. 
To  Miss  Wheeler. 
[House  of  Lords.] 

My  Angel  Poodle, — How  are  you  this  morning  ?  I  am 
going  to  the  H.  of  L.  about  our  petition  at  '%  past  2,  but 
hope  for  the  happiness  of  seeing  you  at  12,  when  I,  will 
call. 

Ever  Zoo  o\^n  Puppy. 

•  Tay,  Irish  for  Tea. 


Lord  Lyttons  Letters.  273 


CLXX. 

To  Miss  Wheeler. 

["The  Reigning  Vice." — Mr.  Chauncey  Hare  Townsend,  cleverish 
ignorant  person.] 

AtliencBum. 

My  own — Angel  Poodle,— After  I  left  00,  I  went  home 
— found  my  brother  and  my  first  cousin  (who,  they  say,  is 
like  me)  writing.  We  entered  a  great  coach  and  drove 
down  to  the  H.  of  Lords.  There  we  waited  about  2  hours 
before  we  were  admited  to  an  Audience,  and,  as  it  is,  we 
shall  have  a  considerable  delay  in  the  decision  of  the 
Petition,  owing  to  the  illness  of  my  uncle,  a  principal 
witness.  From  H.  of  Lords  we  Avent  to  two  or  three 
different  places,  among  others  to  Mortlock's  where  I  looked 
after  some  china  and  glass.  I  shall  see  after  a  carriage 
when  we  have  a  definite  answer  about  the  house. 

Finding  Henry  was  going  to  a  large  party,  and  feeling 
very  disinclined  to  meet  them,  I  came  here  to  dine  and 
took  up  a  new  Satire — called  "  The  Reigning  Vice,"  which 
you  may  have  seen  advertized.  The  Author  wishes  to 
prove  selfishness  the  reigning  Vice,  and  gets  hold  of  some 
very  silly  now-fangled  ideas  ;  but  tho'  the  philosophy  is 
shallow,  the  poetry  is  good,  the  versification  easy  and 
polished,  and  the  whole  thing  amusing  enough.  I  was 
surprised  to  find  I  recognized  the  Author  in  some  lines 
read  to  me  ten  years  ago.  The  writer  is  a  Mr.  Chauncey 
Hare  Townsend,  a  cleverish  ignorant  person. 

I  am  scribbling  this  to  00,  my  prettiest  little  dog,  while 
they  are  procuring  me  a  coach.  I  must  write  to  Mrs. 
Cunningham  to-morrow,  and  inform  her  about  you.  Mr. 
Eichardson,  my  brother's  steward,  also  calls  on  me  at  12 
to-morrow,  and  I  shall  find   wa/s  and  means  thro'  him  of 


2  74  Lord  Lyttons  Letters. 

raising  money.     In  the  meantime,  my  precious  love,  me  is 
unalterably  oo  own. 

Puppy. 
CLXXL 

To  Miss  Wheelek,  40,  Somerset  Street. 

[Mr.  King,  mentioned  in  "  Pel  ham." — Peel.] 

My  Own  Angel,  My  Sweetest  And  Darlingest  Doll, — 
After  me  left  oo,  me  and  Sister  Fan  went  down  to  my 
mother's  wlio  was  not  at  home  ;  accordingly  we  proceeded 
to  the  Stables, 'where  I  mounted  my  royal  charger,  leaving 
Fan  in  the  care  of  my  servant ;  then  me  went  into  the 
Ecgent's  park,  where  me  met  Mr.  Peel,  who  was  laughing 
so  loud,  that  Lady  barked  at  him — I  hate  people  who  are 
merry;  accordingly  I  left  the  Park  and  road  out  into  the 
country,  and  thought  about  de  present  administration — 
thinking  what  a  much  wiser  one  might  have  been  made 
under  canine  auspices.  After  that,  me  came  home  and 
found  a  Mr.  King  here,  whom  I  have  made  honourable 
mention  of  in '^  Mr.  Pelham";  he  is  a  great  friend  of 
Lamb's — Lamb  by  the  way  is  going  on  Saturday  next  to 
Ireland.  This  Mr,  King  is  now  with  us,  telling  us  anecdotes 
and  classical  quotations.  Henry  is  looking  at  his  feet  and 
preparing  for  the  Opera,  and  me  is  going  to  write  the  greater 
part  of  the  night  at  one  of  my  clubs.  Me  is  now,  my  own 
dearest  darling  love — me  is  now  going  to  wish  oo  good 
night.  May  God  bless  and  presrve  oo,  and  may  you  soon 
be  in  Puppy's  paws.     Oo  own. 

DOLLBEAKER  AND  PaCKHORSE. 


Lord  Lyt ton's  Letters.  275 


CLXXII. 

To  Miss  Wheeler. 

[Jealousy. — Lord  Castlereagh.] 

My  Dear  Rose, — A  moment's  reflection  might  convince 
you  that  you  have  misunderstood  my  letter.  I  neither 
wanted  nor  cared  one  straw  about  the  explanation  you  have 
condescended  to  give  ;  to  me  L'^  Castlereagh  is  the  same  as 
any  one  else — all  I  wish  to  convey  to  you  is,  that  one  mny  be 
perfectly  innocent,  and  yet,  by  a  disregard  of  appearances, 
endure  the  same  scandal  as  if  one  was  guilty.  That  you 
were  not  acting  at  all  different  from  what  a  girl  of  your  age 
should  have  done  with  Lord  Castlereagh  or  any  one  else,  is 
of  course  quite  clear  to  me — that  you  appeared  to  do  so,  is 
as  evident.  It  is  against  this  appearance  only,  I  repeat 
again  and  again,  that  I  wish  to  guard  you.  I  think  that 
what  you  added  towards  the  end  of  your  letter,  cither  in  a 
moment  of  pique  or  wounded  feeling,  you  have  by  this  time 
discovered  was  uncalled  for.  You  need  not  of  course  be 
assured  that  I  feel  for  you  the  most  undiminished  esteem 
and  admirutioj),  and  that,  as  far  as  Jam  concerned,  venture 
to  hope  for  a  more  happy  Union  at  last  than  it  pleases  you, 
very  flatteringly,  to  predict,  when  you  are  in  the  prophesying 
mood.  I  am  very  much  hurried  and  must  for  the  present 
stop.  Yours  as  ever, 

E.  B. 


276  Lord  Lytto7is  Letters, 


OLXXIII. 

To  Miss  Wheelee. 
[Asking  pardon  for  having  offended.] 

My  Dearest  Love, — I  have  been  engaged  all  the  morn- 
ing in  money  matters  for  Henry — of  the  most  vital  impor- 
tance to  him  ;  and  I  am  grieved  to  say  I  have  not  succeeded  ; 
otherwise  I  should  have  written  to  you  before.  Your 
servant,  besides,  did  not  wait  for  an  answer ;  and  I  have  no 
one  else  to  send  this  morning. 

My  own  dear  love,  you  were  very  wrong  in  thinking 
anything  else  but  your  illness  yesterday  made  me  so 
despondent.  Is  not  that  enough,  especially  when  I  am 
absent  from  you  and  fancy  a  thousand  horrors  worse  than 
the  worst  reality  ?  but  you  are  better  to-day,  and  I  am 
happier  and  easier  about  you.  I  see  that  I  have  had  my 
usual  ill-fortune  to  offend  you  in  speaking  of  "  explana- 
tion": perhaps  it  was  a  wrong  word.  I  mean  however,  to 
write  you  a  longer  letter  than  I  can  do  now,  fully  explana- 
tory of  my  meaning.  Meanwhile  I  can  assure  you  that  I 
ment  no  explanation  or  excuse /rom  you  as  to  anything  that 
is  past.  My  letter  will  only  allude  to  such  things  and 
occurrences  in  reference  to  the  future.  "With  regard  to 
your  Uncle's  letter,  there  can  be  no  doubt  as  to  its  rude- 
ness ;  but  I  can  readily  enter  into,  and  even  approve  and 
like  his  feelings,  if  he  thought  me  the  cause  of  your  illness 
— that  little  subject  of  complaint  will  thereforo,  I  hope, 
easily  be  rectified. 

I  enclose  you  a  note  to  Miss  Landon  ;  also  a  letter  to 
your  mother.  As  you  have  the  review  of  the  "  Rebel "  that 
appeared  in  London  ?we/l-/^,  perhaps  you  will  send  it,  if  you 
think  it  advisable — it  docs  not  say  a  great  deal  ;  but  what 
it  does  say  is  flattering.  And  now,  my  own  dear,  dear  Bose, 


Lord  Lyttoiis   Letters.  277 

pray  pardon  me  for  every  and  each  thing  in  which  I  have 
offended  you.  Do  believe  that,  as  far  as  I  can^  my  most 
ernest  and  heartfelt  wish  is  to  render  yoa  happy,  and 
nothing  makes  me  so  miserable  as  the  conviction  that  I 
cannot.  I  will  write  again  at  night.  I  find  I  h:ive  not 
time  (as  I  wish  to  leave  this  as  soon  as  possible)  to  write  to 
your  Mother  now ;  but  will  poon  as  I  come  in.  Pray  I 
implore  and  beseech  yon,  look  to  the  bright  side  of  things, 
and  with  regard  to  me  only  state  candidly  your  wishes  and 
they  shall  be  obeyed. 

E.  L.  B. 
I  beg  00  pardon,  my  own  love,  for  not  answering  00 
enquiries  about  my  car  !  the  fact  is,  that  it  was  in  such  very 
great  pain,  that  I  thought  it  useless  to  vex  00  about  it. 
However  when  I  called  yesterday  on  Pope,  I  asked  him, 
rather  as  an  excuse  than  anything  else,  too  look  at  it,  wh  he 
did.  He  syringed  it  and  gave  me  some  stuff,  but  it  is  very 
little  better. 

To  Miss  Wheeler,  40,  Somerset  Street. 
[Quarrels.] 

My  Dearest  Poodle, — Don't  be  such  a  silly  little  dog — 
kiss  and  make  friends,  will  00  ?  If  00  will,  don't  write  me 
those  naughty  letters  about  00  health,  w^  always  go  to  my 
heart  ;  but  tell  me  00  is  better  and  happy,  and  that  00  has 
forgotten,  as  well  as  forgiven,  all  Puppy's  impertinencies. 

Seriously,  my  dearest  Rose,  don't  let  us  mar  our  happi- 
ness by  quarelling  with  each  other  !  let  us  quarrel  with  all 
the  Avorld  else,  if  we  must  quarrel ;  but  there  should  never 
be  any  coldness  between  Puppy  and  Poodle. 

Do  nurse  yourself  and  get  well,  for  the  sake  of  one  who 
never  changes  to  00. 

P. 


278  Lord  Lyttons  Letters, 


To  Miss  Wheeler. 
[Westcorabe  Park.] 

My  Dearest  Love  and  Darlingcsfc  Poodle, — Me  writes  to  00 
one  line  to  tell  00  bow  mncli  me  loves  and  adores  00.  After 
me  left  00,  me  went  to  WestcombePark.  It  realy  is  one  of 
tbe  most  beautiful  things  I  ever  saw — such  a  charming  park 
and  gardens  ;  but  lo  !  upon  looking  over  the  rooms,  I  dis- 
covered the  dry  rot,  not  a  thing  I  believe  very  fatal  to  a 
house.  However,  I  shall  have  a  surveyor  to  look  over  it, 
and  then  we  can  see.  On  my  return,  I  found  a  very  kind 
note  from  00  Uncle,  quite  explaining  away  the  (no  doubt) 
unintentional  iota  of  complaint  I  had  against  him.  Me  is 
very  deaf  and  very  low-spirited,  and  me  is  going  for  a  few 
minutes  to  de  Opera,  to  drive  dull  care  away. 

God  bless  00,  my  own  dear  kind  darling  love,  and 
believe  me  your  most  true,  most  affectionate,  most  doating. 

Puppy. 

Pray,  pray,  pray  sleep  well  to-night. 

CLXXIV. 

To  Miss  Wheeler,  40,  Somerset  Street. 
[Miss  Wheeler  had  an  offer.] 
My  Own  Darling  Angel, — And  so  me  could  only  see  00 
for  a  single  moment  !  I  passed  again,  but  you  were  not 
there,  and  people  -were  opposite,  so  I  durst  not  pass  again. 
And  00  has  had  an  offer  ?  Ah,  my  own  darling,  why  have 
I  not  £2,000  a  year  to  settle  on  00  !  Yes  my  beauty,  my 
Poodle,  my  dear  dear  love,  I  have  a  great  deal  to  say  to  00. 
The  letter  is  not  from  my  Mother  I  am  in  the  greatest  hurry. 
Henry,  W™  and  two  lawyers  are  here.  God  bless  00,  my 
own  angel  !  When,  when,  when,  when,  when  will  12 
o'clock  to-morrow  come  ? 

Oo  OWN  Puppy. 


Lord  Lyttons  Letters.  279 


CLXXV. 

To  Miss  TVheelee,  40,  Somerset  Street. 
[Tricg. — His  Mother  talking  to  Henrj'^  about  the  match.] 

Well,  my  own  darling  and  angel,  my  sweetest  Poodle  and 
prettiest  Doll,  me  sends  00  \]cisses\  before  me  goes  out  for 
the  evening — where  me  mil  go,  and  scarcely  know  yet ;  but 
Henry  dines  out  and  me  is  not  in  the  humour  to  go  with 
W^i  to  Lady  Warburton's,  so  me  sail  saunter,  down  to  Vil- 
lier's  and  terminate  the  evening  as  God  pleases,  being  per- 
fectly assured  that  me  shall  return  here  about  12  and  dream 
of  Poodle  and  sigh  and  toss  about  all  night. 

Me  has  a  note  which  seems  to  indecate  that  me  may  get 
Tring  Park,  but  that  is  yet  to  be  seen,  depending  on  various 
and  vast  circumstances  w'^  mo  need  not  now  enumerate  to 
00.  (Pretty  handwriting  this,  is  it  not,  darling  ?  My 
Mother  has  been  talking  to  Hy  about  our  match  and  with 
a  greater  grace,  etc.,  than  I  could  anticipate.  Ah,  ray  own 
Poodle,  if  ever  we  can  we'll  make  it  up  to  her  !  How  very, 
Tcry,  very  happy  an  overjoyed  me  sh"^  be  at  the  idea  of  lay- 
ing my  head  on  00  bosom  for  the  rest  of  my  life,  if  my  con- 
science did  not  smite  me  with  regard  to  my  Mother.  How- 
ever, me  does  so  hope  that  we  sail  all  be  reconciled  yet. 
Me  has  finished  all  about  de  House  of  Lords,  and  so  me 
sail  come  to  00  to-morrow  and  stay  as  long  as  00  likes. 

Good-bye.     God  bless  00,  my  own,  own  Poodle. 


28o  Lord  Lyttons  Letters* 


CLXXVI. 

To  Miss  "Wheeler,  40  Somerset  Street. 
[Oilier. — Houses. — His  depression.] 

My  Darling   Angel  And  Bootiful  Poodle, — How   does 

00  do  ?  Has  00  recovered  oo  beautiful  looks  again  ?  Is  oo 
face  well  ?  Is  oo  head  well  ?  Do  tell  me  all  about  oo  ! 
200,000  [Z;/.'?sc,s].  By-the-bye,  how  like  oo  is  zoo,  zoo  booti- 
ful Poodle  !  I  have  been  engnged  all  the  morning  with 
Oilier  and  a  Lawyer — nice  little  avocations.  Afterwards  I 
drove  and  road  out  for  2  hours,  and  then  went  to  dine  with 
my  Mother.     I  have  Just  come  from  there.     In  my  drive, 

1  went  to  the  house-ngents  about  a  place  ;  there  is  a  very 
nice  one  in  Montgomeryshire,  but  exposed  to  the  great 
objection  of  distance.  At  last  I  have  advertised,  and  the 
advertisement  will  appear  to-morrow  or  next  day  in  the 
Courier  and  Times. 

My  own  dear,  dear  angel,  are  you  tired  of  me,  that  you 
write  to  me  so  dcspondingly  ?  If  you  knew  all  I  have  to 
vex  and  harass  me,  and  could  at  all  see  the  gloom  and 
depression  always  upon  my  heart,  you,  at  least,  would  spare 
me  the  additonal  misery  your  seeming  unkindness  occasions 
me.  However,  I  ought  to  have  self-reproach  and  remorse 
with  respect  to  you,  and  therefore  have  no  right  to  com- 
plain. 

I  write  to  you,  my  dearest  and  most  charming  Poodle, 
in  great  haste,  for  it  is  very  late  and  I  am  fearful  you  may 
be  uneasy.  I  do  not,  my  prettiest  darling,  tell  oo  my 
number,  because  oo  sail  not  write  to  me  of  a  morning  till 
00  is  quite  well.  Me  has  been  selfish  long  enough,  and 
will  learn  to  amend,  God  bless  oo,  my  angel,  my  booty, 
and  make  Puppy  deserving  of  oo  ! 


Lord  Lytto7is  Letters,  281 


CLXXVII. 

To  Miss  Wheeler. 

[Bex  at  the  Play. — Lady  C looking  thin  ] 

My  Dearest  And  Prettiest  Love, — I  have  got  the  box  ; 
you  may  therefore  send  to-night  to  Lady  Doyle's  to  say  that 
3  tickets  or  as  many  more  as  you  like)  shall  be  sent  to-mor- 
row. The  fact  is  that  Henry  only  reserves  one  ticket  for 
himself ;  the  rest  have  been  sold  some  time  since,  so  we 
buy  what  we  want  ;  and  you  must  therefore  let  me  know 
early  in  the  morning,  how  many  00  would  like. 

Me  saw  Lady  C this   morning  ;   she   is   certainly 

looking  thin,  but  me'U  tell  00  all  about  that  to-morrow. 
AVell,  my  own  dear,  dear  love,  my  own  prettiest  and  kindest 
darling  me  does  bless  00  so  for  being  such  an  angel  of  a 
poodle  as  00  has  been  all  day.  Zoo  was  so  good  !  Me  only 
writes  this  to  please  00,  short  as  it  is. 

God  bless  00. 

Puppy. 

CLXXVIII. 

To  Miss  Wheeles. 

[A  fine  ring.] 

My  Dearest,  Darlingcst  Poodle, — Me  was  in  as  much 
surprise  as  00  about  de  note,  but  after  a  great  deal  of  inter- 
rogatory, ascertained  that  my  servant  left  that,  instead  of 
mine,  which  I  now  enclose,  and  which  was  written  by  Vil- 
liers  3  days  ago.  I  am  up  and  about  writing  to  my 
mother,  not  having  answered  her  letter  yet.  Fie,  Poodle, 
for  buying  Puppy  a  fine  ring  !  Fie,  zoo  darling  (and  yet 
zoo  is  such  a  dear,  dear,  dear  love,  that  me  cannot  scold  00 


282  Lord  Lyttons  Letters. 

as  me  to  do,  and  so  me  sail  kiss  00  instead.  Me 
fears  very  much  tliat  me  cannot  be  with  00  to-day  much 
before  2.  However,  me  will  if  me  can  ;  but  me  has  prom- 
ised to  call  on  Mrs.  II""  at  one  to-day — the  only  hour  I  could 
see  her.  Thank  00  ten  thousand  times  for  continuing 
"Puck";  I  am  so  much  obliged  to  00  for  it.  Me  will 
bring  the  tickets  when  mo  comes.  God  bless  00,  my  own- 
est,  ownest,  kindest  darling 

Oo  owN^  Puppy. 

CLXXIX. 

To  Miss  Wheelee. 

[Sending  to  Ireland.] 

My  Dearest  And  Darlingest  Eosey, — Me  likes  00  pretty 
way  asking  Compts.  by  paying  dem.  "Was  it  not  00  who 
looked  pretty,  and  did  me  not  long  so  to  kiss  00,  and  was 
not  00  a  darling  ?  0  zoo  bootiful,  bootiful  Poodle  !  ]\Ie 
will  be  with  00  as  soon  as  possible  ;  but  me  is  going  to  send 
a  man  to  Ireland  to-day,  and  in  order  to  do  so,  must  go 
down  beyond  Lincoln*s  Inn  ;  however,  me  trusts  me  sail 
return  by  one  o'clock  or  before. 

Me  feels  much  better  this  morning  than  me  has  felt  for 
a  long  time,  and  should  be  so  happy  if  me  could  hope  that 
00  did  too.  Zoo  is  a  dear  kind  darling  noble  girl  for 
what  00  says  about  being  a  good  Poodle  ;  and  me  does  also 
promise  00  that  me  will  endeavour  as  far  as  possible  to 
repay  00.  Ah  !  if  00  knew  how  me  does  love  and  worship 
00,  when  00  is  kind  and  me  can  associate  with  00  nothing 
but  fond  and  consoling  feelings,  zoo  would  not  repent  of 
00  forbearance,  my  own  angel.  God  ever  bless  00  and  pre- 
serve 00  ! 

Oo  own,  own,  own,  owner  than  ever 

Puppy. 


Lord  Lyt toils  Letters.  283 


CLXXX. 

P^nquiries  about  the  Wheeler  property.] 

My  Dearest  Poodle, — Send  me  word  by  bearer  the  name 
of  your  father's  phice  Avhich  he  sold,  and  that  which  you 
now  possess — oecondly,  your  3fother's  name — Thirdly,  the 
names  of  your  brothers  and  sisters — fourthly,  the  addresses 
of  Mr.  Parkinson  and  Mr.  Arthur.  Me  is  in  a  great  hurry, 
as  me  is  engaged  with  a  lawyer  (whom  me  sail  send  out  of 
Town  today)  at  12.  Me  hopes,  however,  to  be  with  00 
very  little  after  one.  Pray  send  word  how  my  own  darling 
is. 

Pups. 

CLXXXL 

To  Miss  Wheeler. 

[Letters  for  his  mother  to  see.] 

My  own  Darling,  Darling  Poodle, — How  does  00  do 
and  00  darling  head  ?  Ah,  Ah  !  After  I  parted  from  00, 
I  went  to  my  mother,  where  I  found  W"'  who  dined  with 
ns.  She  was  in  a  very  good  humour.  After  dinner  W"^ 
went  away,  and  I  had  a  long  conversation  about  00.  She 
was  exceedingly  kind,  and  I  want  00  to  write  me  3  or  4 
letters  about  1  page  each,  proper  and  puppy-less,  saying  all 
00  feels,  but  not  in  the  same  language  ;  Zoo  must  avoid  00 
present  simplicity  and  also  all  appearance  of  cleverness  or 
biilliancy.  Only  write  affectionately  and  properly,  and 
bring  in  a  phrase  or  two  about  my  mother,  etc.  She 
wants  to  see  some  of  00  letters,  and  me  has  none  to  show 
her. 

When  I  got  home,  I  found  Sir  Bentinck  Doyle  had 
called.     I  will  try  and  call  on  him   to-morrow   before   I 


284  Lord  Lyttons  Letters. 

leave  Town  ;  if  not,  I  shall  write  to  excuse  myself.  I  had 
hoped,  according  to  Colburn's  promise,  to  find  a  copy  of 
the  "Rebel"  but  am  disappointed.  0  zoo  darling  love  ! 
Me  must  now  finish  as  it  is  so  late  ;  but  mind  00  sleeps 
well  to-night,  and  does  not  even  dream  of  00  own,  own, 
own 

Puppy. 

CLXXXII. 

[Tooth  better.] 

My  own  Darling  Poodle, — Zoo  nice,  dear,  kind,  good 
girl,  me  is  so  much  obliged  to  00  for  sending  after  me. 
Me  Avas  out  when  00  note  came.  Me  has  only  just 
returned.  My  tooth  is  much  better.  Zoo  nice  camphor 
quite  cured  it ;  but  zoo,  my  poor  darling,  me  is  so  unhappy 
about  00  !  Ah  !  if  00  w^  but  be  somebody  !  However,  00 
will  so  soon  be  Puppy's,  and  then  air  and  exercise,  and  care 
and  kisses  and  Puppy,  will  soon  quite  restore  00 — won't 
they,  my  good  Poodle  ? 

Me  will  try  and  call  on  00  earlier  to-morrow — perhaps 
a  M  before  one,  as  me  may  leave  00  sooner.  Me  has  given 
up  my  journey  to  the  country  to-morrow,  in  order  to  be 
with  00.  0  zoo  dear,  dear  love  !  God  bless  00,  and  make 
00  well  and  happy,  prays  00  own  more  than  ever  adoring 
and  fond 

Puppy, 


Lord  Lyttons  Letters.  285 

,  CLXXXIII. 

To  Miss  Wheeler. 

[Proof  of  "Rebel." — Carriage.] 

My  Darliug,  Darling  Darling  Poodle^ — Pray  forgive  00 
own  Puppy  for  not  writing  before.  Me  has  been  out  all 
day  looking  after  a  lodging  by  Twickenham  and  Richmond, 
because  00  does  not  wish  him  to  be  at  a  distance  from  00  ; 
but  alas  !  he  cannot  find  one,  and  he  very  much  fears  that 
Southend  is  the  nearest  situation.  My  own  angel,  00 
must  at  all  events  sleep  well  to-night,  since  00  own  Puppy 
is  so  near  00. 

Mr.  Colburn  h;is  sent  me  a  proof  of  the  '' Rebel. ^'  Zoo 
has  no  idea  how  bad  all  the  first  canto  (which  00  saw)  is  in 
print.  Me  is  going  to  alter  it,  if  possible.  Ah  !  here  is  a 
letter  from  00  !  My  dearest  darling  Poodle,  00  is  too  good 
to  write  me  such  a  dear  letter,  Avhen  me  has  not  written  to 
00  yet.  0  zoo  darling  darling,  zoo  does  not  know  how  me 
loves  00  !  I  am  so  so  fond  of  00,  and  long  so  for  00  ! 
Yes  !  me  does  !  and  me  will  write  00  more  than  once  a 
week — yes,  me  will,  darling  !  Me  sends  00  another  pic- 
ture of  a  carriage  ;  wh  00  must  return.  They  are  my 
crests  upon  it  ;  me  does  not  like  the  red  hammercloth, 
w*^  me  thinks  should  be  the  same  colour  as  the  carriage, 
and  me  has  the  harness  for  the  carriage,  and  the  mould- 
ings sh'^  be  plated,  not  brass.  Me  also  thinks  the  body  of 
the  carriage  sh'^  be  hung  still  lower  and  somewhat  broader. 
Let  me  know. 

Me  sends  00  some  Poems  my  big  brother  has  lately 
printed  ;  the  copy  belongs  to  Henry.  Mo  thinks  them 
very  witty  and  classical.  0  you  dear  dear  Poodle,  zoo 
could  never  think  how  00  is  adored  by  00  own 

Puppy. 

I  called  on  Bentinck  to-day. 


286  Lord  Lyttons  Letters. 

CLXXXIV. 

To  Miss  Wheeler,  Somerset  Street. 

[Anxiety  for  her  health.] 

My  Dearest  Durling  Love, — I  have  been  out  all  the 
morning  from  a  very  early  hour,  and  only  just  received 
your  letter.  My  darling  Angel,  how  miserable  you  make 
me.  For  God's  sake  give  me  one  line  to  say  if  you  are 
better.  Why,  why  should  Fate  separate  us  ?  Yes,  dar- 
ling, I  will  call  to-morrow  10  minutes  before  one,  tho' 
Colburn  was  coming.  I  can  write  no  more  now  !  but  do, 
my  own  dear  dear  Poodle,  just  give  me  one  word  : 
''worse"  or  better." 

Zoo  own  own 

PUPPS. 

CLXXXV. 

To  Miss  Wheeler. 

[Met  Miss  Landon  at  his  Mother's.] 

My  Dearest  And  Darlingest  Poodle,— 20,000  [^v'sses] 
for  writing  to  mo  this  morning,  tho'  oo  ought  to  have 
gone  to  00  kennel  like  a  good  Poodle  immediately  oo  got 
home.  Me  was  detained  very  late  at  my  mother's  where  rac 
met  Miss  Landon,  but  me  did  go  iis  far  as  Charing  Cross, 
in  the  wish  to  see  oo  at  oo  party,  but  the  watchman  cried  M 
past  1,  and  me  thouglit  oo'd  be  gone,  so  me  turned  b::ck 
and  slunk  home.  Me  is  very  much  grieved  at  the  idea  of 
00  being  so  unwell  with  oo  exertion,  but  me  does  venture, 
my  own  darling,  to  hope  lluitoo  will  have  a  good  niglils 
night  and  be  recruited.  Me  will  call  on  oo  at  2,  before 
me  goes  to  Sir  F.    Doyle  ;  me   w*   come  earlier,  but  me 


Lord  Lytto7is  Letters.  287 

thinks  00  aught  to  sleep  till  one.     How    could  naughty 
Poodle  talk  of  boring  me  ?    Am  I  not  hor  own 

Puppy. 


CLXXXVI. 

To  Miss  Rose  Wheeler,  40,  Somerset  Street,  Portraan 
Square,  London. 

[Cobham  Inn — celebrated  for  young  married  people.] 

Cobham,  25th . 

My  Own  Dear  Darling  Poodle, — After  me  left  00  with 
many  self  reproaches,  me  returned  towards  St.  James' 
Sq'''^,  first  stopping  to  buy  tlie  London  Review,  in  which 
there  is  a  tolerably  long  and  very  favorable  criticism  of 
"  Mr.  O'Neill."  Me  found  Villiers  anxiously  awaiting  my 
arrival.  We  seated  ourselves  in  silence,  and  went  on  for 
several  minutes  without  a  word.  At  last  he  spoke,  and  I 
said,  in  answer,  "  Yes,  00  is  a  very  nice  little  dog."  We 
reached  Godalming,  which  is  very  pretty  town,  in  safety  ; 
but  Wcstbrooke  Park  is  out  of  the  question  ;  it  might  do 
well  enough  for  people  of  2  or  3  thousand  a  year,  but  not 
for  persons  of  our  "Quality."    Tiiis  morning  we   set  out 

for  M ,  wl]ich  belongs  to  Ada"'  Bladen  Capell.     This, 

which,  from  the  exceeding  badness  and  even  peril  of  the 
roads,  is  almost  inaccessible,  is  a  very  wild  beautiful  place 
indeed,  and  I  think  we  may  offer  money  for  it.  The 
house  is  very  old,  but  very  small.  The  scenery  round  is 
rich  beyond  expression,  and  there  is  a  nice  large  piece  of 
water  for  us  to  swim  about  in  ;  there  is  no  neighbourhood 
and  no  society,  which  is  certainly  also  a  very  great  recom- 
mendation. 

Me  endeavoured  very  earnestly  to  get  to  London  to-night 
but  our  horse,  after  various  stumbles  and  falls,  was  so 
knocked  up  that  we  were  forced  to  stop  here  within  20 


288  Lord  Lyttons  Letters. 

miles  of  Town.  The  Inn  (Cobham)  is  a  celebrated  place 
among  young  married  people,  and  has  a  beautifal  garden 
full  of  roses  (of  which  me  sends  oo  a  leaf),  besides  tolerably- 
nice  bed-rooms,  with  very  hard  huckaback  towels.  Me 
hopes  to  be  in  Town  to-morrow  by  3  or  4  o'clock,  but  me 
will  call  on  oo  whatever  time  it  may  be,  even  in  the  evening. 
Zoo  booty,  zoo  darling,  zoo  angel,  zoo  dear  gii'l  and  nice 
dog  !  Me  sends  oo  2,000,000  \hisse8\,  and  wishes  oo  soft 
dreams  and  sweet  sleej:). 

Puppy. 
Is  00  not  a  darling,  my  own  gentle  Poodle  ?     Is  oo  not 
a  kind  love  ?    Ah  !  me  does,  does,  does  love  oo  so,  so.  So, 
So  !    Prettiest  and  dearest. 

Pupps  ! 

CLXXXVII. 

To  Miss  Rose  Wheeler,  Somerset  Street 

[Name  the  very  earliest  day.] 

My  Dearest,  Dearest  Love, — After  me  left  oo,  me  went 
to  Seymour  St.,  and  stayed  with  my  Mother  till  half-past 
five.  After  that,  me  went  home,  with  my  ears  down  and 
my  tail  slouching  on  the  ground,  very  wet  and  miserable. 
So  me  thougiit,  as  me  trotted  along,  that  sister  Lady,  and 
sister  Terror  b\\^  have  a  holyday  ;  accordingly  me  called  at 
de  stables  and  carried  dem  away.  Me  fonnd  Henry  on  the 
soplia.  A  friend  of  Henry's  dined  with  us — a  Mi-.  Houlditch 
Hungerford,  a  young  man  with  a  magnificent  house  in  the 
country,  which  me  immediately  asked  him  to  let  me. 
After  dinner — fish,  cutlets,  pigeons,  all  horrid — mo  came 
here,  and  am  now  scribbling  to  oo,  that  being  the  purpose 
for  which  me  did  come.  0  zoo  booty,  zoo  darling,  zoo 
angel !  never  did  oo  look  so  bootiful,  so  divine,  as  oo  did 
to-day  !  Oh  liow  me  ought  to  have  kissed  oo  I  Me  would 
have  given  worlds  to  have  kissed  oo  from  head  to  foot,  oo 


Lord  Lyttons  Letters.  289 

was  such  an  unspeakable  paragon  of  booty.  And  what  is 
00  doing,  saying,  thinking,  wishing  now,  zoo  prettiest  little 
dog  ?  Ah  !  how  me  should  like  to  with  00,  and  den  me 
would  lecture  00,  between  kissing,  on  something  00  did,  or 
did  not  do  to-day  ;  but  me  is  sure  that  if  me  tries  to  make 

00  hapi^y,  oo'll  wish  that  m^e  slid  be  so  too,  and  will  not  bo 
above  studying  that  which  will  make  me  so.  Will  00,  my 
own  dear  kind  affectionate  girl  ?  No,  me  is  sure  00  w*^  not  ! 
Ah,  my  dearest  Rose,  how  soon,  how  very,  very  soon,  me 
docs  hope,  00  will  be  mine  !  We  must  have  this  horrid 
letter  to  morrow,  and  then  00  will  name  de  very  earliest 
possible  day,  will  00  not,  my  Poodle  ?  Oh  !  if  happiness 
can  appear  in  the  features,  and  if  00  can  judge  of  the 
appearance,  00  will  not,  my  Poodle,  be  dissatisfied  with  my 
looks  on  tlic  day. 

Me  is  going  to  fulfil  an  engagement  with  the  owner  of 
Westcombe  Park  to-morrow,  but  me  hopes  to  get  away  by 

1  as  usual,  tho'  my  own  Rose,  me  must  consider  a  little 
before  I  can  promise  to  come  to  00.  It  w^  be  so  much  the 
worse  plan  not.  However  my  heart  and  wishes  are  the 
worst  seducers,  and  me  fears  me  shall  not  be  able  to  resist 
them. 

Farewell,  my  own  darling  darling  Poodle ;  ten  million 
kisses  from  00  doating 

Puppy. 

CLXXXVIII. 

To  Miss  Wheeler,  40,  Somerset  Street,  Portman  Square. 
[Temple  of  Fairies.] 

My  Dearest  And  Darlingest  And  Angelest  Poodle, — Me 
is  very  very  very  sorry  no  letter — and  now  they  tell  me 
that  one  could  not  have  had  one  before  to-day.  However, 
me  must  call  to-morrow,  whether  there  is  one  or  not,  and 


290  Lord  Lyttons  Letters. 

then  me  sail  see  00.  Oh,  if  00  knew  what  an  age  it  seems 
to  me  since  I  did  sec  00,  00  w*^  feel  happy  almost  that  1  do 
not,  for  then  00  would  know  how  incomparably  me  does 
doat  on  and  idolize  00. 

Thank  00,  my  prettiest  Titania,  for  00  Temple  of  Fai- 
ries," which  me  used  to  love  so  when  me  was  a  pup — me 
does  not,  however,  see  anything  to  crib.  Me  sail  be  back 
at  eight.  '  Back,'  00  says,  '  where  is  00  going  ?'  Me  is 
going  to  Greenwich  to  see  a  house,  and  if  me  can  write 
when  me  comes  in,  me  will ;  only  00  must  not  depend  on 
me.  0  zoo  booty,  zoo  darling,  zoo  love,  00  own,  own  more 
than  ever  attached 

Puppy, 

CLXXXIX. 

To  Miss  Wheelek. 

[Letter  must  come  to  day.] 

My  Own  Dear  Kind  Angel  Love,— 200,000,000  [hisses] 
for  00  darling  letter  last  night  and  00  note  this  mornmg, 
00  Servant  did  not  v/ait  for  an  answer,  so  me  sends  this  by 
mine.  Me  went  to  a  place  14  miles  from  Town  yesterday, 
instead  of  Greenwich,  as  being  a  more  likely  place  to  suit — 
Eastcote  House.  However,  it  was  a  very  poor  place. 
Tring  has  spoilt  me,  I  fear,  for  any  other.  As  me  of 
course  lost  my  way  on  the  road  me  did  not  get  to  Town 
again  before  half  past  seven,  and  then  me  went  to  dine 
with  Villiers  ;  from  whence  me  had  not  returned  when  00 
note  came  ;  this  is  the  full  and  true  account  of  the  Adven- 
tures of  Puppy  de  Poodle,  esq''*'. 

Me  thinks  the  letter  &\xxe\jmust  come  to-day  ;  if  so,  me 
will  hasten  to  00  with  it — if  not,  why,  00  must  see,  my 
own  dearest  love,  that  me  ought  to  absent  myself  from  00. 
However,  if  me  is  not  with  00  by  one,  me  will  write  to  00, 
my  darling.     Pray,  prettiest,  go  out,  if  this  wretched  let- 


Loi'd  Lyttons  Letters.  291 

ter  does  not  arrive  ;  go  and  sec  00  cousins  and  the  G — 's, 
and  keep  00  spirits,  and  don't  stay  at  home  to  mope  00 
darling  self  to  death.  Mind  00  does  not,  to  please  00  own 
j)oor  Puppy,  Avho  doats  on  00  to  that  degree  that  this 
absence  seems  privation  of  air,  sun,  life. 

Good-bye  for  the  present.  God  bless  00,  my  own  dear, 
dear  love  !  It  was  one  before  I  came  in  last  nigiit,  or  I 
would  have  written  to  00  ;  indeed,  I  w<^  almost  have  dune 
that,  late  as  it  was,  if  I  c*^  have  found  any  one  to  send. 
My  ear  is  much  better,  thanks  to  00  enquii'ies. 

cxc. 

To  Miss  Wheelek. 
[Going  to  Greenwich  to  see  a  house.] 

No  letter  yet  !  I  am  so  vexed,  I  shall  leave  Town  for 
the  day  and  go  to  Greenwich,  in  order  to  see  a  place  I  have 
heard  of  cheap.  Thank  00,  my  own  darling  Poodle,  for  00 
note.  I  did  go  to  Almack's,  and  saw  Fanny  in  high 
beauty  !  It — not  slu — was  very  thin — scarcely  a  soul 
there.  I  did  not  stay  5  minutes.  I  am  distracted  with 
the  ear-ache  this  morning,  and  am,  besides,  so  deaf  I  can 
scarcely  hear  a  syllable. 

I  enclose  your  picture  ;  mind  00  takes  care  of  it,  and 
sends  it  back  in  the  evening.  Ah,  my  prettiest,  how  sail 
me  live  thro'  this  long  day  without  seeing  00  !  poor,  poor 
Puppy  !  pra}/  pity  him,  and  yet  me  would  not  have  00  pity, 
for  me  thinks  it  true  that  Pity  is  a  relation  to  Love,  and 
that  they  have  the  mutual  aversion  to  each  other  relations 
generally  have. 

Me  is  more  low-spirited  than  00  can  conceive,  and 
therefore  me  does  not  so  much  regret  not  seeing  00.  Love 
is  made  for  summer  skies,  not  clouds  ;  ail  birds  who  live  in 
vapour,  like  the  vulture  and  eagle,  are  condemiled  to  be 
alone.     Ah,   why,  why,  why  did  I  ever  link  any  human 


292  Lord  Lyttons  Letters. 

being  to  me  ?  but  it  is  too  late  now.  At  least?,  my  own, 
only  love,  do  nurse  yourself  and  let  me  have  in  your  exist- 
ence a  consolation  for  my  own. 

Puppy. 

CXCI. 
To  Miss  Wheeler. 

[Her  fretting.] 

My  Poor  Dear  Darling, — Oli  !  why  has  00  been  crying  ? 
Do  tell  00  own  indolatrous  puppy,  who  loves  and  adores  00 
beyond  all  comparison.  My  dear,  dear,  kind,  nice,  good, 
tender  love,  my  beautiful  Poodle,  me  must  take  00  soon, 
and  then  me  will  never  allow  00  to  pine  so,  for  me  will  kiss 
and  hug  00  till  00  is  quite  happy,  will  me  not.  Poodle  ? 
Me  has  been  to  Greenwich  and  seen  such  a  nice  place — me 
does  so  hope  that  me  sail  be  able  to  get  it,  but  me  fears  it 
will  be  too  dear.  However,  me  will  tell  00  all  that  to-mor- 
row, when  me  calls,  w'^  me  will,  about  one  or  half-past  as 
usual,  tho'  me  does  hope  me  sail  have  a  letter  to-morrow. 
Me  is  very  tired,  and  my  poor  horse  is  waiting  with  my 
servant  to  take  this,  so  me  must  conclude.  For  God'^  sake, 
my  dear,  dear,  dear,  most  dear  love,  take  care  of  ooself. 
Dream  of  00  own,  own  passionately  loving 

Puppy. 

Ten  million  [kisses']  for  De  Fairy  Tales.  Pray,  pray, 
pray  don't  fret ;  indeed  00  has  no  cause,  for  Puppy  will 
try  all  his  life  to  pay  00  for  what  00  has  suffered.  Oh  ! 
how  me  longs  to  see  00  ! 


Lord  Lyttons   Letters.  293 


CXOII. 

To  Miss  Wheeler 
[Handkerchief.] 

My  Own  Dearest  And  Kindest  Love, — Me  write  00  one 
little  word,  to  say  me  sail  be  with  00  by  a  little  after  one, 
as  me  sail  wait  a  short  time  in  case  of  any  letter.  And  is 
00  in  such  pain,  my  own  poor  Rose  ?  Zoo  has  no  idea  of 
the  wretched  sensation  me  has  when  00  complains  and  me 
cannot  relieve  00 ;  but  me  sail,  me  sail,  see  00  at  one,  and 
then  me  will  kiss  away  de  pain,  whetlier  00  will  or  not. 
God  bless  and  keep  and  preserve  00,  my  own  own  own 
darling — will  00  not  really  be  my  own  next  week  ? 

Puppy. 

Oh  !  what  a  bootiful  handkerchief  00  has  sent  me ! 
Me  never  saw  anything  so  pretty — ''wear  it  when  nobody 
sees  me  ?"  Indeed  Mrs.  Poodle,  me  sail  do  no  such  thing ; 
me  sail  make  it  my  state  kerchief. 

OXCIII. 

To  Miss  Wheeler. 

[He  is  better — only  pain  in  ear.] 

My  Darling  Angel  Poodle, — Me  thanks  00  ten  million 
times  for  00  dear  pretty  note.  Me  is  very  well  to-day,  and 
has  only  a  slight  pain  in  my  ear.  Me  has  altered  my  mind 
about  going  to  Colburn's,  and  will  therefore  be  with  00  as 
nsnal.  Me  cannot  think  what  my  beautiful  Puss  has  been 
trying  at ;  but  since  it  is  to  please  me,  me  hopes  it  is  a  new 
kiss  ;  and  if  00  could  not  succeed  alone,  Ave  must  practice 
together  till  00  is  perfect.  How  is  00  after  00  ride  ?  me 
hopes  much  better,  but  me  sail  know  when  me  calls  at  one. 
Meanwhile,  dearest  and  divinest  Poodle, 

I  AM  THINE  OWN  HeART'S  PuPPY. 


294  Lord  Lyttofi!s  Letters 

Many  thanks,  my  own  sweet  kind  love,  for  oo  enquiries 
after  Cockbnrn.  He  has  tried  the  Camphor  and  opium, 
but  in  vain. 

CXCIV, 

To  Miss  Wheeler. 

[Miss  Wheeler  ill. — Better  when  letter  arrives.] 

My  Own  Dear  Kind  Good  Poodle, — Ten  thousand 
thanks  for  oo  letter,  which  oo  was  a  true  darling  to  write. 
When  me  got  home  from  Brook's  last  night,  me  found  oo 
note  ;  and  me  was  at  first  a  little  hurt  at  oo  going  to  Lady 

D 's  without  speaking   to  mo  first,  but  afterwards  me 

thought  00  would  not  mope  oo  darling  self  there,  and  so 
rae  was  reconciled  to  oo.  Zoo  is  my  own  angel  Poodle  for 
enquiring  so  kindly  after  me  ;  me  feels  quite  well  to-day, 
better  than  me  has  for  a  long  time,  but  oh  !  how  me  wishes 
it  was  still  00  turn  to  ask  after  me  rather  than  mine  to  feel 
for  00  !  My  own  dearest  dear  love,  I  am  so  really  unhappy 
at  your  being  ill.  I  loill  call  on  oo  to-day  for  a  short  time, 
but  I  fear  not  before  2,  as  me  has  promised  to  go  out  with 
W™  to  choose  a  gun  at  1. 

Do,  my  own  beautiful  love,  go  to  Sir  F.  Doyle's  again 
and  dine  there.  I  shall  be  so  happy  and  well  if  you  will 
keep  up  your  spirits  and  health,  and  you  ought  to  be  so 
well  before  oo  goes  into  do  country.  Me  is  sure,  my  dar- 
lingest,  ownest,  fondest  Poodle,  that  oo  will  be  better  when 
00  has  had  dis  letter  and  felt  in  oo  heart  of  hearts  how 
deeply  and  truly  oo  is  loved  and  adored  by  oo  own  own 

Puppy. 

Zoo  darling  darling  Kosey  Poodle  !  {llarlcs  of  Msses.] 


Lord  Lyttons  Letters.  295 


CXCV. 

To  Miss  Wheeler,  40,  Somerset  Street. 

[Richmond  with  a  party.] 

My  Darlingest  Poodle, — Me  is  in  ji  very  great  hurry, 
and  just  setting  off  to  Richmond  with  a  party — much  too 
late  for  them — me  having  only  time  to  say  me  will  write  00 
a  nice  long  big-eared  puppy  of  a  letter  to-night,  and  that 
me  adores,  loves  and  doats  on  00. 

PUPPS. 

CXCVI. 

To  Miss  Wheeler,  40,  Somerset  Street. 
[The  Richmond  party.] 

Ah,  Poodle  !  pray  forgive  00  own  truant  Puppy  for 
staying  away  all  yesterday.  It  really  was  not  his  fault,  for 
when  de  other  dogs  got  doTrn  to  Richmond,  dey  all  would  stay 
there  till  \i  P^st  8  and  so  it  was  near  11  by  the  time  wc  got 
to  Vauxhall  Bridge,  and  then  dey  insisted  on  going  to 
Vauxhall,  so  poor  Puppy  was  caught.  My  own  darling  me 
was  so,  so  sorry,  for  me  did  want  to  come  home  and  keep 
my  promise  to  00  so  much,  and  me  thouglit  of  nothing  but 
00  the  whole  time.  Me  will  come  and  see  00  to-day  about 
three  o'clock  or  perhaps  before,  as  me  is  going  out  of  Town 
to-morrow — to  Woodcot.  But  00  my  dearest  love,  how  is 
00  ?  me  does  hope  so  that  00  has  slept  well.  God  bless  00, 
prettiest  and  kindest  and  goodest,  zoo  own  doating. 

Pups. 


296  Lord  Lyttoits  Letters. 


CXCVII. 

To  Miss  Wheeler,  40,  Somerset  Street. 
[His  Mother  averse  to  William's  Marriage.] 

My  Darling  Love  And  Poodle, — Me  was  at  dinner  when 
00  letter  came  ;  I  c"^  not  therefore  answer  it  then.  We 
have  some  men  here  now,  so  that  I  can  only  write  a  line  or 
two,  to  thank  00  for  00  pretty  dear  letter,  which  me  sends 
GO  20,000  \hi8scs\  for.  W™  has  just  been  here;  I  don't 
know  whether  he  will  be  married  :  My  Mother  is  still 
very  angry  with  him — Me'll  talk  to  00  about  that  by- 
and-bye. 

Oh  !  darling,  me  v/anted  to  ask  00  this  morning,  but 
me  forgot  it,  whether  a  Colonel  Somebody  did  not  go  with 

00  and  Mrs.  0 's  to  Richmond — tell  me  all  the  persons 

male  or  female,  that  made  00  part}^,  and  tell  me  how  long 
00  stayed  there.  Now  don't  let  my  prettiest  Poodle  rack 
her  brains  to  know  why  me  asked  this  ;  it  is  for  no  very 
particular  reason  ;  but  let  me  know  to-morrow  before  me 
calls  ;  or,  if  00  thinks  we  shall  talk  together,  00  may  tell 
me  then.  Me  lias  been  eating  00  orange  flowers  all  day. 
Zoo  booty,  zoo  darling,  zoo  love,  zoo  Poodle,  good-bye, 
good  night,  sleep  well  and  dream  of  this  day  three  weeks  ! 
Me's  so,  so,  so,  so,  so,  so,  so,  so,  so,  so  happy  that  00  is. 

Puppy. 


'  Lord  Lyttons    Letters.  297 


CXCVIII., 

To  Miss  Wheeler. 

[Colonel  Somebody.— Mrs.  C 's.] 

My  Own  Darling  Poodle, — Thank  00  for  00  prettiest 
letter.  Me  is  very  tired  and  indisposed  to-day,  for  me  did 
not  sleep  all  night.  With  regard  to  the  Richmond  expedi- 
tion, I  met  a  Colonel  Somebody  at  Cheltenham,  whose  name 

I  never  knew,  but  I  think  it  begins  with  G ;  however, 

I  am  quite  uncertain  touching  that  important  point ;  this 
Col.  I  again  met  the  other  day,  and  after  we  had  talked 
about  Cheltenham  some  minutes,  it  came  into  my  head  to 
ask  him  if  he  had  ever  met  00  tliere.  He  said  no,  but  he 
thought  he  had  seen  you  at  Richmond  with  a  friend  of  his, 
and  as  he  talked  much  about  his  friend,  I  wished  to  ascer- 
tain wliether  the  friend  was  Mrs.  C 's  or  any  one  else. 

Zoo  darling,  zoo  booty  !  00  remember  that  before  me  ever 
told  00  me  loved  00,  me  spoke  to  00  as  slightingly  as  I  could 
of  Mrs.  C 's,  whom  I  knew  to  be  a  very  improper  com- 
panion for  00.  A  friend  of  Henry's  and  mine,  a  Frenchman, 
knew  her  much  too  well  at  Paris,  and  that  must  be  Henry's 
excuse  for  addressing  her.  That  is  all  me  wished  to  ask  00, 
prettiest,  and  00  need  not  have  troubled  00  poodle-self  to  give 
so  long  an  explanation.  Me's  too  glad  that  thoy  are  going 
to  wash  00. 

Oo  own  tried  but  true  and  indolent  and  idolizing 

Puppy. 


2^8  Lord  Lyttons  Letters. 

CXCIX. 

To  Miss  Wheeler,  40,  Somerset  Street,  Portmaii  Square. 

[A  quarrel. — Shall  not  send  back  presents  yet. — Had  seen  Woodcot. 
— Bought  a  tea  and  dessert  set  of  Dresden  China.] 

My  Own  Dearest,  Kindest,  Most  Beautiful,  Most  Darl- 
ing Poodle,  My  Angel  Of  Life, — Let  me  know  and  worship 
00.  Let  me  humble  myself  before  oo  in  the  fullness  of  an 
adoration  more  intense  and  overflowing  than  Numac*^  have 
ever  felt  for  his  Egosia,  or  Endymion  for  his  Diana.  !My 
tenderest,  dearest  love,  you  have  taken  me  out  of  a  doubt 
and  suspense  more  pitiable  than  you  can  conceive.  Never 
will  I  forget  this  condescension  in  you,  never  !  And  now, 
dearest  Rose  listen  to  me  !  I  owe  you  a  return,  and  one 
which  I  have  meditated  ever  since  I  thought  of  writing  to 
you  what  I  have  done.  It  is  this.  It  is  /,  not  you,  who 
shall  alter  !  I  will  for  thfi  future  endeavour  as  much  as 
possible  to  correct  my  temper  ;  perhaps  I  may  not  succeed 
at  first,  but  oo  will  bear  with  me  for  a  little  while,  and  it 
shall  be  less  than  you  suppose.  If  I  once  make  a  resolve,  I 
can  sooner  than  most  people  carry  it  thro'.  My  own,  my 
dearest,  my  tenderest  love,  forgive,  I  implore  oo,  oo  own 
Puppy  for  all  he  has  made  oo  suffer. 

Now,  dearest,  shall  come  oo  triumph, — it  isoo  only  that 
shall  tame  and  subjugate  oo  own  Wolf,  Puppy,  till  he  can 
lay  his  head  on  that  beautiful,  beautiful  bosom  and  forget 
even  to  growl. 

Oh,  Rose  !  how  I  do  bless  oo  for  oo  letter.  It  has 
seemed  to  me  of  late  that  you  wish  rather  to  break  off.  I 
have  been  piqued  and  hurt  at  the  readiness  with  w^  you 
parted  from  me.  I  have  thought  I  owed  our  reconciliation 
rather  to  your  kindness  and  compassion  to  mc,  than  to  your 
own  feelings.  I  have  thought,  in  short  that  you  ware 
wearied  with  me  and  my  morosity,  and  contemplated  with 


Lord  Lyitons   Letters.  299 

dread  our  future  union — this,  perhaps,  made  me  write  to 
00  differently  than  me  otherwise  should.  Forgive  me,  my 
own  darling,  darling  love — will  00  not,  booty  ?  20,000,000 

Ah  !  that  me  could  kiss  00  !  that  me  could  breath  out 
my  homage,  my  worship,  to  00,  in  one,  one  long  burning 
eternal  kiss  !  Shall  we  not  be  both  the  better,  and  the 
wiser,  and  the  happier  for  this,  my  Poodle,  hereafter  ?  me 
is  sure  we  sh-ill. 

And  is  00  still  ill,  my  ownest  ?  But  this  will  make  00 
well,  will  it  not  ?  Ah,  dearest,  dearest  Rose  ;  2000  \kisses\. 
Do  not  be  hurt,  love,  me  is  going  out  of  Town  to-morrow 
for  two  days.  ]\Ie  is  very  unwell  feverish,  and  nothing  but 
the  country  can  do  me  any  good,  so  that  me  will  gow  down 
to-morrow  and  look  at  Woodcot  Hall,  which  me  hopes  so 
will  suit  us. 

Me  has  bought  such  a  pretty  tea  set  for  00,  and  a  dessart 
set,  of  Dresden.  Me  will  not  send  back  00  presents  yet, 
but  me  hopes  00  will  see  them  at  Woodcot  very,  very  soon. 
Oh,  how  me  does,  does  long  for  that  day.  If  00  knew  how 
happy  me  was,  me  is  now,  00  would  be  happy  too — would 
00  not  darlingest  ?  Write  to  me  to-morrow  early,  and  on 
Thursday  let  me  see  00  :  Mo  will  not  before,  for  me  should 
go  and  take  a  house  directly  ;  and  besides,  we  do  not 
deserve  the  happiness  of  a  meeting  since  we  have  both  been 
naughty  enough  to  quarrel.  And  now,  darling,  good-bye 
and  God  bless  00,  and  may  00  forgive  Puppy  as  utterly  and 
sincerely  as  00  possibly  can. 

Mesrs  Kisses  &  Co. — Pay  to  Poodle  : — 

2,000,000  [kissesi']  to  her  eyes, 
4,760,540,087  to  her  lips, 
9,000,070,005  to  her  cheeks. 
(Signed) 
1827,  London.  Puppy. 

Is  me  good  ? 


300  Lord  Lyttons  Letters. 


CO. 

To  Miss  Wheelee. 

[Going  witli  Villiers  to  Woodcot.] 

My  Own  Darling  And  Kind  Love, — I  wrote  in  a  great 
linrry  to  you  this  morning.  I  am  now  on  the  point  of  set- 
ting off  for  Woodcot — it  appears  to  be  a  very  long  journey 
for  a  gig  ;  however,  I  shall  get  down,  I  hope,  in  good  time, 
Villiers  goes  with  me  very  good-naturally.  Me  was  not 
naughty,  Mrs.  Poodle,  about  the  Dresden,  because  it  was 
very  cheap  and  very  homely.  Me  only  gave  for  the  dessert 
and  tea  set  £15,  and  me's  going  to  buy  of  de  same  man, 
who  is  a  broker,  all  de  things  me  shall  want  for  our  kennel. 
Me  sends  oo  back  all  oo  playthings.  God  bless  oo  my  own 
dear  restored  angel  !  Henceforth  we  will  be  to  each  other 
what  two  human  beings  never  were  before.  God  bless  oo  ! 
Take  care  of  ooself.  Me  is  sure  oo  will  not  fret  ooself  now, 
but  00  must  take  air  and  exercise — mind  oo  does,  and  not 
think  of  anything  but  oo  own,  own,  own,  own,  own  fond, 
true,  devoted,  doating 


Puppy. 


Me  bas  had  no  letter  from  Ireland. 


COL 

To  Miss  "Wheeler. 

[Suspense  only  a  day  or  two.] 

My  Own  Darling  Love, — For  Heaven's  sake  keep  up  oo 
spirits  and  comfort  ooself  as  much  as  oo  can.  Our  suspenses 
can  only  last  a  day  or  two.  And  then  oo  will  and  must  be 
mine  ;  and  me  will  repay  oo  and  oo  dear  good  Uncle  for  all 
and  everything. 


Lord  Lyttons  Letters.  301 

My  owu  dearest  angel,  me  is  now  going  to  be  fed  ; 
afterwards  me  is  going  out  and  then  to  Almack's,  perhaps. 
Good-bye,  my  own,  dear,  dear,  girl,  00  loving 

King  Puppy. 

COIL 

To  Miss  AVheeler. 

[Archbishop  of  York  to  marry  them — no  necessity  to  give  him  any 

tiling.] 

My  Dearest  Rosey, — Do  go  to  Brighton  ;  it  will  do  you 
a  great  deul  of  good.  I  will  run  down  myself,  if  you  do,  I 
should  particularly  wish  you  to  go,  for  your  health's  sake 
as  well  as  every  other  consideration.  Do,  my  own  darling  ! 
I  mearly  write  to  beg  you  to  do  so,  and  to  request  you  to 
look  after  my  ring  dropped  in  the  parlour.  I  will  write  to 
you  again  in  the  course  of  the  day.  Ever  most  doatingly 
yours,  E.  L.  B.  Pupps. 

Me  is  in  a  great  hurry. 

On  consulting,  about  it,  I  find  the  Archb?  of  York 
would  be  infiuitely  more  desirable  than  any  one  else — and 
no  necessity  to  give  him  anything  ! 

com. 

To  Miss  Wheeler. 
[Not  liking  her  to  go  with  the  D 's.] 

My  Dearest  Kosey, — I  write  00  one  line  to  say  00  is  a 
darling.     Me  will  tell  00  to-morrow  why  me  did  not  like  00 

to  go  with  the  D s.     Me  has  got  00  letter.     God  bless 

GO  darling. 

Zoo  OWN  Pupps. 


502  Lord  Lyttons  Letters. 


CCIV. 

To  Miss  Wheeler,  40,  Somerset  Street,  Portman  Square. 
[Preparations.] 

M}'  Own  Darling  Rosey, — Me  has  been  running  over  do 
Town  all  day — 1st,  mc  has  seen  about  a  gun  ;  2ndly,  me 
me  has  seen  W'"  ;  3rdly,  mc  has  been  to  my  lawyer's  ;  4thly, 
me  has  been  to  my  hatter  ;  5thly,  me  has  been  to  4  shops 
about  the  plate  we  want ;  Gthly,  mo  has  written  four  notes 
to  servants  ;  Tthly,  me  has  looked  over  all  my  things  with 
my  last  servant ;  Sthly,  me  has  seen  after  a  pony  gig  ;  9thly, 
me  has  seen  about  our  carriage  ;  lOthly,  mc  has  seen  after 
de  bedstead  ;  and  now  me  is  Avaiting  for  Henry  to  come 
and  dine  at  Brooks's  from  whence  mo  sends  this  epistle. 

Me  has  been  very  unwell  all  day,  but  oo  has  heard  my 
complaints  so  often  that  oo  has  grown  tolerably  indifferent 
to  them,  but  never  mind.  Will  oo  let  mc  know  who  Sir 
J.'s  lawyer  is,  that  mine  may  see  him  ?  Has  oo  found  my 
ring  ?  De  reason  me  did  not  like  oo  to  go  with  Lady 
Doyle  was  this  :  me  thought  she  asked  oo  because  she 
wanted  de  horses,  and  me  was  too  indignant  at  the  idea  of 
00  going  anywhere,  where  oo  presence  was  not  the  sole 
inducement  for  asking.  If  oo  walks  to  de  next  door  to  see 
anybody  but  Puppy,  all  de  whole  street  should  go  on  their 
knees  to  thank  oo.  Past  8,  and  Henry  not  come  !  Well, 
off  goes  this,  and  de  man  sail  ask  for  an  answer.  Mind  oo 
says  how  oo  is,  and  mind  oo  tells  me  if  oo  is  not  going  with 
Mrs.  Doyle,  which  me  hopes  oo  is.     God  bless  oo  darling, 

Oo  own  Pupps. 


Lord  Lyttoris  Letters.  303 


CCV. 

[Offer  of  Seat  in  House  of  Commons  for  £2,500— Very  cheap.] 

My  Dearest  Poodle,  And  Darlingest  Kose, — Thank  oo 
for  00  note,  which  ''gave  me  great  pleasure"  as  our  friend 
Col.  Montagu  w^  say.  I  enclose  the  letter  to  your  Mother, 
•which  I  don't  like  at  all  ;  it  is  too  stiff,  but  it  really  was  a 
difficult  enterprise.  Send  it  back  if  there  is  anything  me 
can  alter  for  the  better. 

Me  does  not  know  about  the  kennel  yet,  for  the  diffi- 
culty is  the  terms.  Oh,  Poodling  !  yesterday  me  had  an 
offer  of  coming  into  the  House  for  £2,500 — a  very  small 
sum  indeed,  but  me  refused  it  without  a  sigh.  If  me  does 
take  the  house,  me  shall  only  wait  in  Town  to  get  servant, 
etc.,  as  Elanor  plagues  me  to  death.  Oo  will  tJien  fix  the 
day  00  likes,  and  me'll  come  up  the  day  before.  Me  will 
endeavour  to  come  to  oo  before  4,  if  possible,  i.  e.,  directly 
Mr.  Kay  leaves  me. 

Adieu,  my  dearest  girl, 

Oo  owK  Puppy. 

CCVI. 

To  Miss  Wheeler. 

[Presents. — The  dignitary. — The  license. — The  carriage.] 

My  Own  Darling  Angel,— It  was  too  kind  in  oo  to 
make  me  such  a  bootiful  present ;  me  thinks  it  one  of  de 
very  prettiest  things  me  ever  saw.  Zoo  is  such  a  love  for 
it,  and  yet  oo  is  a  very  naughty  Poodle,  for  oo  knov/s  oo 
cannot  afford  to  buy  all  dose  tilings  for  Puppy,  and  it's  all 
very  fine  in  oo,  Mrs.  Poodle,  lecturing  Puppy  upon  his 
extravagance,  when  oo  is  so  expensive  ooself.     Fie,  Poodle  ! 


304  Lord  Lyttoiis  Letters. 

fie  !  Zoo  darling  !  2,000,000  \kisses\.  Ah  !  my  candle  ia 
going  out,  for  me  writes  dis  in  de  evening,  as  me  starts  so 
early  in  de  morning.  Oh  !  me  almost  forgot  to  say,  that 
me  had  trotted  off  to  L^  Ranelagh's  place  ;  me  got  there 
by  dusk,  knocked  up  the  servant,  and  saw  the  house, 
which  is  a  very  poor  thing  indeed,  so  that  me  feels  quite 
reconciled  to  Woodcot  House,  near  Nettlebed,  Oxfordshire. 
There,  Mrs.  Poodle,  what  docs  00  say  to  that  ?  Does  00 
understand  mind  00  goes  to  Frank's  to-morrow,  for  which 
me  sends  00  my  moonbeam  chain  as  a  present,  with  a  strict 
injunction  to  catch  all  de  pretty  Butterflies  00  can  with  it ; 
and  mind  00  tells  Frank  how  much  00  has  taught  me  to 
admire  and  like  him,  and  how  me  regrets  my  unfortunate 
coldness  of  manner,  and  how  me  hojies  he  will  come  often 
to  Oxfordshire  to  shoot,  and  how,  next  year,  me  will  make 
de  fairies  stock  one  wood  with  jiheasants,  and  keep  it 
exclusively  ^x  his  use.  And  mind  00  learns  about  board 
wages,  and  get  a  Dignitary  to  marry  us,  and  ask  about  a 
license,  concerning  the  rights  of  which  me  is  quite  ignor- 
ant, with  all  other  matters  of  equal  importance.  Mind  00 
sleeps  well,  my  prettiest,  and  mind  00  has  now  nothing  to 
fret  about.  Good-bye  for  the  present  ;  me  will  finish  this 
to-morrow — me  is  ill  and  feels  very  unwell,  but  hopes  the 
journey  will  remove  it. 

The  carriage  is  come.  Well,  my  own  darling,  me  must 
Avish  00  good-bye  !  Let  me  know  in  00  letter  who  Frank 
means  to  ask  ;  if  he  can  ask  a  few  good  people.  I  shd  par- 
ticularly like  it — if  not,  then,  for  God's  sake,  don't  let  him 
nsk  Second-rate  people,  unless  they  are  great  friends.  Find 
out  how  long  it  requires  to  get  a  license — and  whom  one 
gets  it  of.  God  bless  and  preserve  00,  my  own  darling 
love. 

Oo  owx,  OWN  Pups. 

Who  will  wash  in  00  basin  and  ewer  all  his  life,  zoo 
prettiest  cf  Fairies  !  * 


Lord  Lyttons  Letters.  305 

I  have  told  Felton,  the  coachmuker,  to  call  on  you 
to-day,  if  we  don't  send  for  him  (he  lives  in  Long  Acre), 
as  I  think  he  is  mistaken  your  orders  about  the  lining. 


CCVII. 
To  Miss  Wheeler. 

[More  purchases. — Campbell.] 

My  Own  Naughty  Darling, — Zoo  should  not  have 
bought  does  things — Wc  have  candlesticks  in  de  house,  and 
all  manner  of  Toys,  and  me  has  ordered  a  basin  and  ewer. 
However,  if  00  will  spend  00  money  foolishly,  00  must. 

Me  has  seen  1A.\\  Dreddle's  letter,  darling,  and  sent  a 
coiDy  of  its  purport  to  Mr.  Loaden.  Zoo  has  done  quite 
well  about  de  supporters,  and  zoo  is  a  dear  nice  good 
naughty  little  dog  altogether.  Me  is  now  going  to  dress 
for  Mr.  Campbell.  Oh,  Poodle,  me  will  send  00  de  linnen 
to-morrow  to  look  over,  at  12.  There  are  some  tablecloths 
second-hand,  of  foreign  damask ;  they  dont  seem  to  me 
good,  but  I  am  not  the  best  judge. 

Finding  myself  very  sulky  this  morning,  I  curled  down 
ray  tail  and  set  out  to  Mr.  Colburn,  to  vent  it  on  him. 
Zoo  has  no  idea  how  me  frightened  him  !  After  that,  me 
went  to  several  places,  and  trotted  after  my  half-pay,  but 
was  too  late  for  de  magistrates. 

Me  has  had  a  long  letter  from  W™,  who  has  been  dowu 
to  Warfield,  near  Woodcot,  but  does  not  like  it  (Warfield). 
Zoo  servant  waits,  audit's  time  me  sh*^  go  to  Mr.  Camp- 
bell's. God  bless  00,  my  doll,  my  pup,  my  rose,  my  jewel, 
my  plate,  my  wife  !    God  bless  00  ! 

Pup  Rex. 
20 


3o6  Lord  Lyttons  Letters. 


CCVIII. 

To  Miss  Wheeler. 

[Her  weeping  and  seeing  ghosts.] 

My  Own  Darling, — Me  was  not  offended  with  oo,  but 
me  was  very,  yery  ill,  and  perhaps  me  thought  oo  cared 
very  little  about  it.  I  myself  think  that  Ily  had  better  see 
Frank,  to  thank  him  for  what  he  had  done.  Oo  is  a 
naughty  little  Poodle  for  crying  and  seeing  ghosts  and 
otherwise  teasing  ooself  ;  and  me  will,  and  must,  call  on 
00  in  the  course  of  the  afternoon — perhaps  by  3  or  4  you 
may  have  returned  from  Mrs.  Roberts;  but  mine  oo  docs 
not  come  home  one  minute  sooner  than  oo  otherwise  w*^, 
as  me  does  not  deserve  to  sec  oo,  if  me  has  been  so  unhappy 
as  to  vex  oo. 

God  bless  you,  my  dear  darling,  kind,  generous  love  ; 
me  looks  forward  Avith  a  transport  that  conquers  all  uneasi- 
ness, pain  or  anxiety  on  minor  points,  to  the  day  that  will 
give  me  such  a  treasure.     2,000,000  {hisses.'X 

Pups. 

Leave  word  that,  if  Hagley  calls  at  2  as  he  said,  ho 
leaves  the  plates,  and  the  price  on  a  piece  of  paper. 

CCIX. 

[The  Doyle  pillar.] 

My  Own  Darling  And  Angel  Poodle,  My  Sweet  And 
Beautiful  Love, — I  am  so  glad  that  you  are  better.  I  am  so 
tired  and  worried  and  bored,  that  I  should  make  a  very  dull 
corespondent.  I  am  not,  therefore,  unwilling  to  avail 
myself  of  oo  permission  not  to  write  at  any  length.  Me 
shall  see  oo  to-morrow.  Ah  !  me's  so  happy  !  Me's  so 
very  much  obliged  for  the  Doyle  pillar,  which  me  thinks 


Lord  Lyttons   Letters.  307 

very  pretty.     God  bless  00,  my  angel,  and  keep  00  well  and 
happy. 

Puppy. 

ccx. 

,  To  Miss  Wheeler. 

\         [The  carriage.] 

Mv  Dearest  Rose, — you  must  forgive  me  if  I  was  pee- 
vish— I  am  so  very  muoii  worried.  Believe  me,  my  ownest 
Rosey,  that  I  do  not  wrong  your  many  and  great  excellen- 
cies— I  only  err  when  I  expect  from  you  things  which 
naturally  enough  do  not  even  suggest  themselves  to  you.  I 
have  been  down  to  FeUon's,  and  desired  him  to  put  no 
Mantle  (as  you  wished  not  to  have  one)  to  the  arms.  You 
will  have  the  carriage  in  time.  I  only  write  this  line,  to 
beg  you  to  paidon  me.  I  shall  stay  at  home  all  the  evening 
and  write.     Good-bye,  my  Poodle  ;  God  bless  you. 

Puppy. 

CCXI. 
To  Miss  Wheeler. 

[Settlements  out  of  the  question.] 
I  am  truly  grieved  at  your  uncle's  want  of  confidence. 
He  must  place  it  in  me,  or  I  know  not  what  can  be  done. 
Even  your  own  fortune,  such  as  it  is,  it  W'l  be  so  much  for 
our  Mutual  advantage  to  mortgage,  or  sell,  that  I  think  is 
scarcely  advisable  to  make  it  a  settlement,  your  Uncle 
must  see  that  where  the  wife  brings  nothing,  settlements 
are  out  of  the  question  ;  in  tlie  present  case  they  are  per- 
fectly impossible.  If  I  could  ruin  myself  any  further  I 
would  with  pleasure,  but  I  literally  cannot.  Surely  you,  or 
your  uncle  might  trust  me  !  In  the  meanwhile,  keep  up 
your  spirits,  and  believe  that  I  will  do  everything  in  my 


3o8  Lord  Lyttoiis  Letters. 

power  to   make  you  liappy.      Many  thanks,  my  dearest 
Eose,  for  y''  trouble  about  the  books. 

Ever  y"^  own,  own 

Puppy. 
I  will  let  you  know  in  the  morning  if  I  can  meet  you, 
which  will  depend  on  my  cough,  which  I  think  is  rather 
better.     Pray  take  all  possible  care  of  y'  self. 

CCXII. 

[Confidence  in  his  provision  for  the  present  and  future] 

My  Dearest  Love  And  Poodle, — I  fear  I  may  have  been 
unjust  to  you  in  the  hurried  note  I  sent  you — the  truth  is 
I  was  both  hurt  and  angry  at  what  after  all  was  very 
excusable  in  your  uncle  ;  and  my  reason  for  vexiition  is 
chiefly  because  I  do  not  well  see  how  to  meet  his  wishes,  or 
how  to  obviate  the  very  unexjiected  obstacle  that  has  started 
up.  I  am  sure,  my  own  Poodle,  that  you  will  have  suffic- 
ient confidence  in  me  to  know  that  I  will  not  leave  you 
destitute,  and  that  whatever  is  in  my  power,  either  here  or 
hereafter,  shall  be  affected,  in  order  to  satisfy  my  sense  of 
my  own  un worthiness  of  you  and  of  your  merit. 

If  I  am  at  all  better,  I  will  meet  you  to-morrow,  and 
you  must  forgive  me  if  the  vexation  and  disappointments 
of  the  moment  made  me  petulant  and  unjust.  I  could  not 
rest  till  I  had  written  this  line  to  you.  Pray  take  care  of 
yourself  ;  keep  up  your  spirits ;  give  me  one  line  to  say 
how  you  are,  and  believe  me, 

Y""  most  affectionate  doating  and  devoted 

Puppy. 


Lord  Lytlons   Letters.  309 

CCXIII. 

[Her  letter  satisfactory. — Send  it  to  bis  Mother.] 

My  Dearest  Eose,— Notliing  can  be  more  satisfactory 
tlum  your  letter,  and  Mr.  Loaden's,  which  I  have  just 
roc'i,  and  \i^  I  will  shew  you  when  I  call.  I  shall  send 
them  both  to  my  Mother  to-day.  I  called  yesterday  on 
Mr.  Lewis  ;  he  was  not  at  home.  I  left  a  note  saying  w 
should  be  glad  of  his  evidence. 

Good-bye  !     God  bless  you  !    The  lawyers  are  with  me. 

Edward. 

COXIV. 

To  Miss  Rose  Wheeler,  40,  Somerset  Street. 
[More  purchases. — A  cook. — Letter  to  his  Mother.] 

My  Dearest,  Darlingest,  Bootifulest,  Cleverest  Eose, — 
Me  never  saw  such  darling  things  as  00  has  bought,  nor 
such  cheap  ones.  My  own  dear  love,  00  is  too  great  a 
jew-el,  and  as  hard  to  have  anything  to  do  with  as  a  dia- 
mond. Dcy  are  so  very,  very,  very  bootiful,  that  they  are 
quite  lit  to  come  as  a  present  from  00. 

Me  will  call  on  00  to-day,  after  me  has  finished 
"  Puck,"  seen  after  a  cook,  called  on  W"^,  and  written  an 
answer  to  a  long  letter  from  my  mother.  Me  does  not 
know  what  time  it  will  be,  bnt  me  will  make  it  as  early  as 
possible.  Yes,  love,  do  send  me  a  man  to  pack  up  de 
China.  Good-bye,  my  darling  [niarlcs  of  kisses],  God 
bkss  00. 

Pups. 


3IO  Lord  Lyttoiis  Letters, 


ccxv. 

[Domestic  preparations.] 

Thank  oo,  my  own  angel  Poodle,  for  oo  darling  and 
kind  letter.  Me  is  up  and  going  to  prepare  for  the 
fatigues  of  the  day.  My  own  dear  dear  dear  dear  dear 
love,  zoo  is  too  kind  and  good  to  oo  own  naughty  ru])py, 
who  is  always  vexing  and  teasing  oo.  Never  mind  about 
the  future,  darling.  At  least  we  can  have  one  year's  hap- 
piness, and,  if  me  can  but  be  lucky  in  writing,  me  have 
every  chance  of  being  even  affluent.  Meanwhile,  nothing 
on  earth  is  comparable  to  you  and  your  love.  God  bless 
00,  my  sweet  Poodle,  for  loving  me — but  indeed  oo  ought^ 
for  me  doats  on  oo  to  folly.  Me  will  be  sure  to  have  my 
best  frock  on  to-morrow,  and  look  nice  and  clean.  Oh, 
Rose !  how  very,  very  unfortunate — you  mistook  the  ques- 
tion 00  were  to  ask  the  postman  ;  you  were  to  have  asked 
if  there  was  a  mail  to  Limerick  through  Bristol,  not  if 
there  was  one  to  Bristol,  and  now  I  find  my  letter  will  stay 
there  till  Wednesday  next,  till  the  steam  vessel  goes.  I 
am  so  vexed,  ;ind  tiiere  is  not  time  now  to  write  another 
letter. 

Me  will  send  oo  de  linen  to-day  or  to-morrow  morning. 
Zoo  must  see  about  de  tea,  only  lib  of  each,  and  lib  of 
coffee,  wb  must  be  put  in  a  tin.  Ah,  Rose,  my  own  dear 
love,  me  must  now  enter  into  an  existence  quite  different 
from  that  me  has,  with  oo.  Good-bye,  my  love,  zoo  own 
fond  faithful  doating  devoted  adoring 

PcrPY. 


Lord  Lyttons  Letters,  311 


CCXVI. 

To  Miss  Wheeler. 

[Last  before  marriage.] 

You  are  an  angel,  my  Rose  !  but  I  will  cull  upon  you  at 
one,  and  tell  you  what  you  arc.  I  feel  your  consideration 
as  it  deserves ;  there  can  bo  but  one  answer  to  it — and  that 
you  must  let  me  whisper  to  you  on  the  29''^.*  No,  Rose, 
darling,  there  is  no  necessity  for  a  delay.  God  bless  you, 
my  good  and  kind  and  generous  love. 

Your  own  ownest 
Pups. 

*  Endorsed  by  Lady  Lytton  :— "  On  that  fatal  Thursday,  29th  of 
August,  1837,  I  was  married  to  this  man  at  St.  James's  Church,  Pic- 
cadilly, Loudon,  by  the  Honb'e  and  Revnd  William  Bentinck  and 
inarrtd,  as  the  Irish  pronounce  it,  for  the  rest  of  my  life. 

"  August  20th,  1851.  R.  B.  Lytton." 

Letter  of  Sir  Francis  Doyle  to  Miss  Wheeler. 

[Mr.  F.  H.  Doyle's  letter  about  time  of  wedding.] 

"  10,  Montague  Squre,  Monday,  26tii  August,  1827. 
"  My  Dear  Rosina, — I  saw  Mr.  Bentinck  this  morning.  He  will 
be  ready  at  }.^  past  11  o'clock  at  St.  James'  on  Wednesday  next. 
An  ordinary  license  is  sufficient,  without  publication  of  banns,  where 
one  of  the  parties  to  be  married  has  resided  within  the  Parish  for  a 
month.  If  you  preferred  9  o'clock,  he  would  equally  be  at  yr  ser- 
vice at  that  hour. 

"  I  remain  ever  very  alfectly  ys, 

"  F.  H.  Doyle." 
MARRIAGE. 

On  Thursday,  the  29th  August,  at  St.  James'  Church,  Piccadilly, 
Edward  George  Eurle  Lytton  Bulwer,  Esq.,  was  married  to  Rosina 
Anne  Doyle  Wheeler,  by  the  Hon.  and  Rev.  William  Bentinck. 

After  the  breakfast,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bulwer  sot  off  for  Woodcot, 
near  Nettlebed,  Oxfordshire. 

Bosina  Anne  Doyle  Wheeler  was  the  only  surviving  child  of  the 


312  Lord  Lyttons  Letters. 


CCXVII. 

To  Mrs.    E.   L.    Bulwer,    Woodcot    House,    Nettlebed, 

Oxon, 

[Domestic  subjects.] 

October  2Uh,  1827. 

My  Dearest  Poodle, — I  have  just  rec*^  your  letter.  In 
the  first  place,  you  may  imagine  my  vexation  at  finding 
that  my  mother  was  at  Worthing,  and  will  remain  there 
for  some  time ;  the  chief  object  of  my  journey  here  being 
thus  frustrated,  I  shall  lose  no  time  in  returning,  and 
directly  I  have  settled  about  my  horses  you  may  expect  me 
home.  I  fear  this  will  not  be  before  Sunday  or  Monday. 
In  the  second  place  I  have  seen  the  cook.  I  asked  her 
what  she  ought  to  have  in  the  house  way  ;  she  said  3  pints 
of  milk  a  day,  half  a  pound  of  butter  a  week  for  each  ser- 
vant, and  each  servant  to  have  a  loaf  a  week.  I  insisted 
very  much  on  economy,  w^  slie  agreed  to  con  amore.  She 
is  evidently  an  old-fashioned  second-rate  cook,  but  she 
agrees  to  take  lessons.  Now  then,  your  opinion  !  If 
Mrs.  Dorden  will  bo  nearly  as  saving  as  this,  let  us  keep 
her  ;  if  not,  suppose  you  read  her  this  estimate — ask  her  if 
she  can  agree  to  it,  but  add  that  tue  must  \\Q.ve  positive  and 
not  prow t><?c?  amendment.  Your  opinion  given  by  return 
post  will  decide  the  question.     The  woman  is  about  50. 

Tell  Warren  that  during  my  absence  Terror  must  sleep 
out,  or  else  be  left  loose  in  the  Inver  part  of  the  house. 
She  is  no  guavd  at  all,  shut  up  with  Warren.  The  only 
possible  use  of  a  dog  is  out  of  doors. 

late  Francis  Massy  Wheeler,  Esq.,  of  Bally  wire  and  Lizzard  Counell, 
Limerick,  Ireland 


Lord  Lyttons   Letters.  313 

I  am  very  comfortless  here,  and  not  too  much  with  TV"^. 
I  have  not  seen  Emily.  Very  impertinent  of  Mr.  Smith. 
A  thousand  thanks  for  the  shoe  !  Oh  !  be  sure  and  let  me 
know  how  your  cloak  is  to  be  lined  ;  if  you  don't,  I  shall 
order  a  new  one. 

I  have  seen  some  things  for  the  Miss  Greens,  and 
selected  two.  Lot  me  know  if  they'll  do — one  an  ornament 
of  gold  and  stones  to  do  for  the  hair  or  a  brooch  or  to  hang 
to  a  chain,  the  other  is  something  similar ;  they  are  both 
the  newest  fashions,  and  look  aa  if  they  cost  much  more. 
For  the  same  price  as  one  of  them  you  may  have  a  gold 
bracelet  with  a  heart  to  it.  Wh  do  you  like  "best  ?  Lot 
me  know  also  if  I  shall  part  with  your  ring ;  they  only 
offer  £4  for  it.  I  advise  you  to  keep  it.  Not  seen  Villers 
yet. 

And  now,  my  own  darling,  let  me  get  rid  of  these  world- 
ly matters  and  tell  you  how  I  thank  you  for  00  darling  letter. 
Every  hour  me  misses  00  more  and  more,  and  thinks  of  00 
with  deeper  and  fonder  and  intenser  love.  Ah,  my  own 
dearest  Angel  !  me  never  loved  00  till  me  married  00. 
Every  day  me  is  more  rejoiced  at  the  idea  that  00  is  now 
mine  forever.     God  bless  00  and  j)reserve  00,  dearest. 

Oo  owK  Puppy. 
,  The  Postman's  bell  is  ringing. 

CCXVIII. 

To  Mrs.   E.   Lytton    Bulwer,  Woodcot  House,  Near 
Nettlebed,  Oxon. 

[Domestic  subjects.] 

Odoler  '^Uh,  1827. 
My  Dearest  Poodle, — I  am  so  very  uneasy  about  00  ;  do 
take  care  of  ooself  ;  never  get  out  of  bed  without  00  slippers. 
Do  take  exercise  ;  in  short,  remember  how  invaluably  deax* 


314  Lo7'd  Lyttons  Letters 

00  is  to  me.  "VVm  now  talks  of  going  to  Bath  and  then 
resuming  Heydon.  Oo  must  immediately  on  receiving  this 
send  me  the  dress  which  best  fits  you,  for  W™  is  liaving  a 
bill  at  Maradon's  and  wants  very  much  to  make  me  a  pres- 
ent of  a  collar  for  Poodle. 

Maradon  says  she  wants  a  dress  of  oo's  ;  00  must  there- 
fore be  sure  to  send  it  immediately  and  state  exactly  how 
you  Avish  the  new  one  done  ;  black  and  white  blond,  eh  ? 
Me  is  so  glad  and  me  is  sure  00  is,  now  me  does  not  pay 
for  it.  You  must  be  sure  to  send  the  dress  by  the  first 
coach  directly,  as  /  loail  in  Town  to  receive  it  ;  if  you 
don't,  I  shall  send  one  of  Maradon's  women  down  to  you, 
which  will  be  ridiculous.  Therefore  pray  be  certain  to  lose 
no  time. 

I  don't  like  the  presents  I  have  chosen  much  for  the 
Miss  Greenes.  However,  they  can  be  changed  if  you  dis- 
aprove  of  them.  Mind  also  to  take  the  masure  of  the 
length  and  breadth  of  thcLiby,  that  I  may  see  if  the  carpet 

1  think  of  will  fit,  and  send  word  by  return  of  post. 

The  horses  are  come,  but  I  have  not  seen  "W"^  yet. 
Henry  is  in  Brussels  and  very  triste. 

I  have  seen  none  of  your  relations  yet.  Did  Miss  Carre 
mention  the  receipt  of  the  game  ?  I  have  seen  the  French 
review  of  ''O'Neil";  very  flatteriiig  it  sells  better  than  it 
did,  by-the-bye.  The  cook  is  to  cook  for  us  to-day  ;  she 
seems  a  very  nice  woman — so  liideous,  I  really  vote  taking 
her! 

Me  has  not  bought  a  single  thing  ;  is  not  me  good  ?  I 
have  seen  great  Villiers.  He  has  been  in  great  and  grievous 
tribulation.  When  we  meet  we  are  going  to  see  the 
Gascoignes.  Now,  my  own  queen  of  darlings,  take  all 
possible  care  of  ooself,  and  believe  in  the  increasing  love 
and  adoration  of  00  own  own  Pupj^y. 

If  Wm  had  not  given  me  this  dress,  me  intended  to 
have  bought  00  a  necklace  of  topaz  and  emerald  ;  but  now 


Lord  Lyttons  Letters.  315 

me  shan't — not  even  a  shawl  for  00.  Ld  Guilford's  dead  ; 
no  other  aristocratic  news.  Pray  be  sure  to  send  the  dress  ! 
How  judiciously  kind  in  W™  ! 

CCXIX. 

To  Mks.  E.  L.  Bulwer,  Woodcot. 
[Domestic  Matters.] 

My  Dearest  Rose, — I  send  you  some  things  of  Henry'p 
by  W™-  You  will  remember  in  paying  W°^-  liis  wages  that 
4  days  out  of  the  7  is  to  be  deducted,  he  having  had  from 
me  £5  a  day  during  his  trip  to  Town — this  deduction  at  Is. 
8d.  a  (lay,  rather  less  th;in  it  ought  to  be,  is  7s. 

God  bless  00,  my  own  dear  dear  darling  angel  love,  for 
00  pretty  kind  and  good  letter.  I  have  not  time  to  answer 
it  now,  but  will  write  to-morrow. 

Thank  00  for  de  ring — me  will  do  as  me  thinks  best 
about  it. 

I  saw  Emily  yesterday  ;  she  looks  very  ill,  quite  plain. 
Pray  do  keep  Terror  in  no  room,  and  keep  Topper  in 
Terror's  kennel.  Be  sure  and  let  me  have  the  Dress  to- 
morrow. How  very  good  in  W™-!  Me  likes  him  now. 
Me  fears  00  will  not  have  00  shoes  for  a  fortnight.  Ever 
my  dearest  dearest  dearest  fondest  kindest  bootifulest 
darlingest  angelest  Poodle,  00  own 

Puppy. 

CCXX. 

To  Mrs.  Edw.  Lytton  Bulwer,  Woodcot  House,   near 
Nettlebed,  Oxon. 

[Domestic  Matters.] 

Odoler  21th,  1827. 
My   Own   Dearest    And   Bootifulest   And   Naughtiest 
Rosey  Darle  ! — Me  is  really  very  angry  with  00  for  being 


2,1 6  Lord  Lyttoiis  Letters, 

sucli  a  love — and  not  sending  me  oo  dress.  However,  me 
is  determined  oo  sail  not  be  the  sufferer  by  oo  generosity 
and  disinterestedness,  tho'  oo  lias  prevented  my  getting  oo 
anything  at  present.  I  eun't  get  the  carpet  under  £12.  I 
shall  have  it  sent  down  by  the  waggon.  I  hope  it  will  do 
for  the  Library  and  Drawing-room  both. 

The  Greenes'  things  want  a  little  altering,  and  are  to  be 
sent  down.  Me  also  hopes  to  be  sent  down  myself  in  de 
hamper  by  the  coach  to-morrow,  and  to  dine  with  my  own 
Poodle  about  7  o'clock.  Me  sail  certainly  be  sent  if  the 
one  o'clock  coach  goes  Sunday.  If  not,  me  sail  be  sent  on 
Monday. 

Zoo  won't  have  oo  shoes  before  Tuesday  week  ;  but  me 
hopes  they  will  be  bootifuly  made  when  dey  do  come.  Me 
is  going  to  send  a  little  filagree  candlestick  to  Emily  in  oo 
name  before  me  goes.  Me  can't,  me  fears,  call  on  oo 
Uncle  ;  but  me  has  seen  Frank  and  pressed  him  very  much 
to  come  down  to  us.  Me  does  not  think  me  sail  part  with 
de  poor  diamond  rings. 

God  love  and  bless  oo,  my  own  incomparable  treasure, 
my  own  dear  dear  dear  dearest  darling,  and  make  me 
worthy — but  that  never  can  be — of  my  angelest  Poodle, 
Rose  and  dearer  than  both — wife. 

P.  S. — Me  has  been  very  idle  and  not  written  a  line 
in  my  copy-book.  Poor  dear  love  !  Me's  so  unhappy 
about  00  headaches,  but  zoo  must  bear  them  all  for  the 
sake  of  oo  idolizing 

Pups. 

Me  sends  oo  300,000  \inarks  of  kisses]. 


Lord  Lyttons  Letters.  317 


CCXXI. 

To  Mrs,  Bulwer,  Woodcot  House,  near  Nettlebed,  Oxon. 
[Colburn.] 

Dec.  nth,  1827. 

My  Dearest  Poodle, — I  write  you  one  line  to  say  that 
Colburn  wrote  me  to-day,  saying  that  he  had  not  yet 
sufficiently  considered  my  work,  but  would  write  to  me 
respecting  it  to-morrow.  The  letter  is  very  cold,  and  I 
liave  not  a  doubt  but  what  he  will  refuse  it,  or  at  least 
demand  some  great  alterations. 

I  thank  you  heartily  for  all  00  kindness,  and  am 
delighted  to  hear  of  00  economy.  I  have  not  heard  any- 
thing further  of  the  place.     Good-bye,  God  bless  00  ! 

Puppy. 

CCXXII. 

To  Mrs.  E.  L.  Bulwer,  Woodcot  House,  Nettlebed,  Oxon. 

["  Pelbam." — Lady  Caroline's  illness. — Lord  Clanwilliam.] 

Dec.  loth,  1827. 
My  Own  Poor  Dear  Angel, — I  am  so  very  unhappy  to 
hear  00  is  ill  and  in  bod  too  !  Ah,  dearest,  how  me  longs 
to  come  to  00 !  Pray,  pray  do  not  fret  oo's  darling  self, 
nor  think  of  our  little  distresses.  Oo  is  right  **  Pelham  " 
must  sell,  whether  to  Colburn  or  elsewhere  ;  but  I  am 
obliged  to  wait  till  Monday.  Perhaps,  if  Colburn  takes  the 
book,  I  may  come  down  on  Monday  evens,  but  Tuesday  is 
tlie  most  likely  day.  Oo  sees  the  necessity  of  staying  here 
till  things  are  concluded.     I  called  on  Ly  Caroline  to-day, 

and  saw  Goddard  (Ly  C being  asleep).     Slie  may  live  8 

weeks,  but  not  more  ;  I  am  very  much  shocked.  I  am  to 
call  again  at  4  to-day.  I  saw  the  Gascoignes,  and  have  a 
large  piece  of  cake  for  00. 


3i8  Lord  Lyttons  Letters. 

I  had  found  a  cook,  but  could  not  take  her,  not  having 
a  character.  I  have  fixed  on  a  very  old  fat  man  as  butler, 
who  will  not,  I  fear,  do  long. 

People  say  \j^  Clanwilliara  is  to  marry  the  Duchess  de 
Berri.  My  mother  sent  me  a  seal  and  a  traveling  knife  & 
fork  of  mine  ;  she  is  evidently  coming  round,  but  will  take 
her  time.     A  letter  from  W'^^  implies  that  he  is  very  happy. 

So  much  for  news  ;  but  do,  my  own  sweet  dear  love, 
for  my  sake  support  ooself.  As  for  me,  I  have  now  quite 
made  up  my  mind  about ''  Pelham,'-'  and  defy  all  the  malice 
of  chance  and  Colburn.  No  news  about  the  appointment  ; 
we  must  wait  awhile.  For  God's  sake,  my  dearest  dearest 
goodest  best  kindest  love,  take  care  of  ooself,  and  remember 
how  00  is  doated  upon  by  oo  own  own 


P Y. 


CCXXIII. 


To  Mrs.  E.   L.  Bulwer,  Woodcot  Hall,  N'  Nettlebed, 

Oxon. 

[William  Bulwer's  Marriage. — Lady  Caroline.] 

Dec.  nth,  1827. 

My  Darlingest  Poodle, — You  alarmed  me  beyond 
measure.  I  shall  lose  no  time  in  returning  to  oo — indeed, 
were  not  the  state  of  our  servants  such  as  it  is,  I  would 
come  down  immediately.  I  have  seen  a  butler  who,  tho' 
very  fat  and  very  old,  will,  I  think,  do,  at  least  for  the 
present  ;  but  I  cannot  find  any  cook.  I  have  been  to 
"\Ym'8  marriage.  It  went  oif  well.  More  when  we  meet. 
Poor  Lady  Caroline  has  the  dropsy — incurable.  I  will  try 
and  see  her,  or  at  all  events  write. 

Pray,  for  my  sake,  keep  up  your  spirits — I  assure  you, 
my  own  darling,  that  all  will  do  very  Avell,  and  we  shall 
yet  triumph.     "  Falkland  "  is  re-advertised.     I  will  write 


Lord  Lyttojis  Letters.  319 

to  you  on  Thursday;  but  not,  I  fear,  to-morrow.  And 
now,  my  own  darling  love,  may  God  bless  and  keep  you  ; 
and,  if  you  do  not  want  to  make  one  (whom  you  have  made 
more,  ten  thousand  times  more,  happy  than  ever  he  was 
before)  miserable,  write  and  tell  me  that  00  is  better  and 
gayer  than  00  was.  Never  mind  that  paltry  bill  at  Kay's  ; 
tis  not  worth  thinking  about — besides,  we  need  not  pay 
till  we  can  well  afford  it.     Once  more,  God  bless  00  ! 

Pups. 

CCXXIV. 

To  Mes.   E.   L.    Bulwer,    Woodcot    House,   Nettlebed, 

Oxon. 

[Villiers'  loss  of  wardrobe.] 

Dec.  30th,  1827. 
My  Dearest  Poodle, — After  a  cold  but  not  disagreeable 
drive,  I  reached  London  in  safety,  and  established  myself 
at  Thompsons's.  I  have  seen  Villiers.  His  things  are 
certainly  missing,  and  were  as  certainly  lost  at  our  house, 
a  thing  which  I  feel  as  a  most  sensible  disgrace,  and  which 
I  shall  not  pass  over  without  the  severest  scrutiny.  Will 
you  therefore,  my  own  darling,  attend  exactly  to  what  I 
am  about  to  say.  Upon  a  minute  consideration  of  the 
case,  the  guilt  seems  to  rest  with  Mrs,  Fowler,  for  the 
linen  seems  to  have  been  that  which  Villiers  had  worn  and 
thrown  in  one  corner  of  the  room.  Besides  this,  half  a 
severing  was  stolen  from  his  table.  Immediately  on  receiv- 
ing this,  you  will  send  (secretly)  for  the  constable  of  the 
village.  You  will  tell  him  you  have  strong  reasons  to  sus- 
pect one  of  the  servants  of  theft ;  but  don't  mention 
whom.  You  will  then  send  for  Mrs,  Fowler  into  a  seper- 
atc  room.  You  will  tell  her  that  you  have  the  strongest 
suspicions  figainst  her,    that  a   constable   is  now  in  the 


320  Lord  Lyttons   Letters. 

house,  that  I  am  resolved  to  enquire  most  severely  and 
thoroughly  into  the  affair,  but  that  if  she  will  confess  she 
shall  not  be  exposed  and  I  will  qnito  forgive  her. 

If  she  does  not  confess,  the  constable  will  go  with  her 
to  her  house  and  her  mother's  house,  and  search  all  over  in 
every  box,  etc.  Let  Evans  accompany  them.  Lose  not  a 
moment's  time  in  sifting  the  business. 

I  am  resolved  to  go  thro'  the  a  matter  which  I  feel  a 
most  real  disgrace  upon  me  with  the  utmost  zeal.  If 
nothing  appears  to  criminate  tlio  woman,  I  will  immediately 
apprehend  Warren,  but  I  have  not  a  donbt  but  that  slie 
is  the  criminal.  I  now  leave  this  duty  to  you,  and  I  have 
the  less  reluctance  to  give  you  so  disagreeable  a  one,  partly 
because  if  my  wishes  with  respect  to  that  woman  had  been 
minded  in  the  first  instant  it  w<^  not  have  happened,  and 
principally  because  I  am  sure  your  cleverness  will  make 
you  execute  it  perfectly.     The  things  lost  are  : — 

4  shirts  13  white  neck  cloths.  - 
6  pairs  of  stockings.  1  col^  *' 

3     ''      ''shoes.  3  white  waist  coats. 

1     ''      ''slippers.  1  blue  " 

There  is  one  very  remarkable  circumstance.  Evans 
declares  positively  that  he  did  put  in  the  shoes.  Now  these 
are  not  to  be  found,  nor  could  they  have  been  lost  on  the 
road,  because  the  box  was  never  out  of  Villiers'  sight,  and 
was  unpacked  at  home  hefore,  2  witnesses.  I  leave  it  to 
you  whether  you  will  trust  Evans  in  this  business — for  my 
part  I  would  recommend  having  the  boxes  of  all  the 
servants  searched.  This  might  be  done  civilly  and  without 
offending  them. 

The  value  of  the  things  is  about  £12  or  £14.  I  would 
not  have  cared  straw,  had  they  been  mine  ;  but  a  robbery  of 


Lord  Lyttons   Letters.  321 

another  person  at  my  house  preys  upon  me  like  poison — I 
um  quito  wretched. 

Write  soon,  by  way  of  balance  to  this  unpleasant  letter. 
My  affiiir  with  Richardson  is  a^i^reeably  settled,  and  Hope 
smiles  on  many  other  things.  Upon  the  whole,  you  had 
better  have  every  servant's  things  searched — it  will  be  less  a 
direct  affront  to  the  "  Fowlers,"  should  they  be  innocent  ; 
but  let  it  be  done  very  civilly  as  if  for  tlieir  satisfaction. 

ccxxv. 

To  Mks.  L.  Bulwer,  Woodcot,  near  Nettlebed,  Oxon. 
[The  same.] 

Dec.  ?>\st,  1827. 

My  Dearest  Poodle, — On  second  thoughts,  the  best 
plan  will  be  as  follows.  Send  for  Evans  privately.  Tell 
hitn  how  deeply  mortified  I  am  at  the  circumstance  say 
that  Mr.  Villiers  is  resolved  to  prosecute  the  enquiry  to  the 
utmost,  and  that  he  suspects  Mrs.  Fowler,  that  in  con- 
sequence of  this  it  must  be  as  satisfactory  to  all  the  servants 
as  to  us  to  have  their  boxes  examined,  and  that  I  wish  to 
have  this  search  a  general  one,  because  in  case  Mrs.  Fowler 
is  innocent  I  should  not  wish  to  cast  reproach  only  upon 
her.  After  this,  tell  him  not  to  mention  the  circumstance 
to  Mrs.  Fowler,  but  to  go  for  the  constable  quietly  and 
secretly — then  have  in  the  servants,  one  by  one — mention 
the  affair  quietly  and  see  into  all  their  boxes,  Mrs.  Fowler's 
of  course  more  espesially  and  minutely.  You  will  mention 
that  I  am  so  concerned  for  the  honour  of  the  House,  that 
lam  determined,  in  conjunction  with  Mr.  Villiers,  to  bring 
the  affair  to  Bow  Street. 

Your  darling  ever,    \ 

E.  L.  B. 

You  had  better  read  the  greater  part  of  tiie  above.  Be 
sure  that  he  does  not  mention  the  circumstance  to  Mrs. 


32  2  Lord  Lyttons   Letters. 

Fowler,  and  that  the  whole  affair  is  done  as  civilly  as  pos- 
sible. I  shall  certainly  arrest  Warren  if  you  do  find  out 
nothing  at  home 

CCXXVI. 

To  Mks.  L.  Bulwek,  Woodcot,  near  Nettlebed,  Oxon. 

[The  same. — Seat  in  Parliament. — Place  in  the  Palace. — Leigh  Hunt's 
Character  of  Lord  Byron.] 

Jan.  2nd,  1828. 

My  Dearest  And  Darlingest  And  Poorest  of  Poodle 
Dogs, — Me  is  so  very  very  sorry  that  oo  went  out  after  the 
constable  and  got  wet  and  has  now  got  a  cold.  Poor  dar- 
ling darling  love  !  and  to  have  had  so  much  trouble  with 
those  nasty  servants.  Pray,  pray,  for  oo  own  PujDpy's  sake, 
take  all  po-sible  care  of  oosclf,  and  write  to  me  and  tell  me 
exactly  how  oo  is.  Tell  the  servants  that  I  am  very  sorry 
at  that  search,  that  I  do  not  and  did  not  suspect  or  at  least 
accuse  any  of  them,  but  that  I  thought  it  due  to  Mr. 
Villiers  and  also  satisfactory  to  their  feelings,  to  have  due 
search  made.  You  will  mention  this  to  all  the  servants 
and  especially  to  Evans.  I  will  have  Villiers'  servant 
examined  as  well  as  Warren.  What  seems  most  singular — 
and  you  may  mention  this  to  Evans — is,  first,  that  the 
portmanteau  never  left  Mr.  Villiers  for  a  moment  till  he 
arrived  in  London  ;  and  secondly,  that  it  was  then  unpacked 
before  two  witnesses,  which  two  facts  seem  to  be  positive 
evidence  that  the  loss  could  not  have  taken  place  after  his 
departure. 

But  enough  of  this  now.  Let  me  tell  my  own  dear  love 
of  all  I  have  done.  Firstly,  I  have  written  for  the  character 
of  a  very  prejoossesiing  gardener.  Secondly,  I  think  of 
engaging  a  very  creditable  man  who  lived  with  L^  Exeter. 
Ju   reste,   I   am   still    without  any  others — "Tyrannical 


Lord  Lyttons  Letters.  323 

Masters  "  as  Heathcote  no  less  justly  than  bitterly  called 
servants. 

I  have  been  making  active  and  zealous  enquiries  about  a 
seat  in  Parliament.  Having  convinced  myself  that  the  thing 
is  hopeless  at  present,  even  for  any  money,  I  have  been  this 
morning  in  treaty  for  that  place  in  the  Palace.  I  think  it 
very  possible  that  we  may  come  to  terms.  I  find  it  is  a 
post  of  great  honour  and  pretty  sure  of  procuring  a  title — 
Hear  that  Lady  Puppy.  Leigh  Hunt  is  writing  Lord 
Byron's  life.  Extracts  have  appeared  already.  It  is  very 
severe,  but  very  true  ;  and  I  take  credit  for  having  so  com- 
pletely penetrated  the  character  of  your  once  *'  Idol.  He 
is  represented  as  a  coxcomb  and  a  bit  of  a  coward,  very 
unamiable,  very  mean,  very  tyrannical,  and  in  most  mat- 
tors  very  ignorant.  I  have  read  "  Herbert  Lacy  "  by  Mr. 
Lister  ;  it  is  what  may  be  termed  neat  or  even  elegant 
mediocrity  ;  but  it  is  no  rival  for  "  Pelham  "  "  Herbert 
Melton  "  since  published  with  a  second  name  of  **  Almack's 
Revisited,^'  is  wretched  stuff,  written  by  a  man  rather 
clever,  but  very  ignorant,  very  canting,  and  very  vulgar. 

I  have  written  to  Colburn,  who  has  promised  to  send 
me  part  of  my  book  during  my  stay  in  Town.  I  am  very 
glad  to  hear  00  likes  Miss  Landon  !  so  do  I  very  truly. 
Thank  her  a  thousand  times  for  her  brother's  remembrance, 
which  wo  must  not  accept.  She  must  have  many  people  to 
send  game  to,  and  we  have  none  at  present.  Send  me  word 
of  Mr.  Bolton  Massy's  direction  in  your  next,  I  have  been 
scribbling  on,  upon  all  matters,  in  order  to  entertain  00. 
My  poor  dear  dear  dear  love,  00  knows  that  me  means  it 
kindly,  for  00  knows  how  me  hates  writing.  God  bless  00, 
my  darling,  my  good  dear  dear  Rose,  00  own 

Pups. 

I  have  bought  the  prettiest  Dinner  Service  you  ever 
saw ;  Berlin  China  with  our  Initials  L.  B.,  and  got  £26 
for  the  Dresden  dishes  in  exchange. 


324  Lord  Lyttons  Letters. 


CCXXVII. 

To  Mks.  L.  Bulwer,  Woodcot,  near  Nettlebed,  Oxon. 

[Villiers.] 

Thomson's,  Thursday, 

Jany.  3^^  1828. 

My  Dearest  And  Darlingest  Love, — I  could  not  write  to 
00  the  other  day,  for  I  have  had  so  much  to  do,  and  00 
must  not  expect  that  00  can  hear  from  me  every  day.  In 
the  first  place,  we  have  had  Villiers'  servant's  things  exam- 
ined, but  in  vain,  Warren  only  remains.  There  is  nothing 
to  criminate  Grodliffe.  Ask  Evans  the  following  ques- 
tions : — Was  Warren  up  the  morning  of  Mr.  Vs.'  depart- 
ure ?  2nd,  Was  the  portmanteau  left  open  in  the  hall  in 
the  presence  of  the  postboy  so  that  the  postboy  could  have 

stolen  the  shoes  ?     I  wrote  to  W asking  him  to  go  and 

assist  00.  Pray  don't  vex  ooself  about  things.  All  is 
going  on  famously.  I  have  got  a  very  nice  butler  who 
lived  with  Lord  Exeter,  also  a  very  good  sort  of  gardener  ; 
but  cannot  as  yet  find  the  others. 

I  have  got  the  two  first  volumes  of  *'  Pelham,"  and 
have  very  little  to  correct.  Moreover,  I  am  to  see  about 
that  place  on  Saturday  morning.  I  cannot  say  when  I 
shall  return,  but  hope  on  Saturday. 

Pray  make  diligent  enquiry  about  my  sword  with 
rcspe3t  to  the  postman,  00  must  remember,  darling,  that 
when  we  thought  him  wrong  before,  it  was  not  the  case  ; 
perhaps  some  of  the  servants  may  have  had  the  letters  ; 
lid.  was  owing  to  him  when  I  left. 

Good-bye,  darling  and  dearest,  when  me  comes  back  all 
shall  go  well,  for  me  v/ill  have  none  but  very  good  dogs  in 
the  kennel.     Meanwhile  don't  vex  ooself,  but  let  all  things 


Lord  Lyttons  Letters.  325 

go  on  well  or  ill,  no  matter  for'  a  day  or  two.  Best 
regards  to  Miss  Landon,  for  whom  I  sh'^  be  very  glad  if  I 
could  execute  any  commission. 

You  OWN  OWN  Pups. 


COXXVIII. 

To  Mrs.  L.  Bulwer,  Woodcot,  near  Nettlebed,  Oxon. 
[Villiers. — Leigh  Hunt  and  Lord  Byron.— Domestic] 

Jany.  5t^  1828. 

My  Dearest  And  Poodliest, — Villiers'  things  are  found. 
We  went  to-day  with  a  Bow  St.  officer  to  Warren,  and 
looked  over  his  things — nothing  appeared.  I  then  ques- 
tioned Warren  as  to  wliat  part  of  the  portmanteau  the 
things  missing  were  put  in,  and  found  that  they  were  all 
placed  in  a  certain  part  called  '^ secret"  which  Villiers 
never  knew  of ;  but  which  Wan-en  knew.  On  this  Ave 
returned  to  Vs.'  and  in  that  '•'secret"  which  Vs.'  servant, 
like  his  master,  never  know  of,  the  things  were  discovered  ! 

My  mother's  letter  is  in  answer  to  my  last,  and  is  rather 
meant  to  vindicate  herself  from  harshness  than  anything 
else. 

However,  she  is  evidently  coming  round,  and  I  have 
w/itten  her  a  very  long  and  kind  letter,  likely  to  facilitate 
our  I'econciliation. 

Nothing  further  about  the  Place. 

I  have  now  chosen  a  very  nice  gardener,  whose  wife  is 
to  undertake  the  poultiy  and  milking  the  cow;  a  good 
respectable  housemaid  and  a  boy,  her  brother,  who  is  to  be 
groom,  and  a  butler.  The  cook  only  remains.  I  have  put 
another  advertisement  in  the  paper.  I  hope  to  return 
Tuesday,  not  before.  The  gardener  and  his  wife  come  on 
Wednesday.  As  they  are  very  nice  people,  whom  I  should 
like  to  attach  to  us,  I  have  promised  to  lend  them  a  bed 


326  Lord   Lyttons    Letters. 

and  any  other  little  articles  of  furniture  we  can.  "Will  you 
see,  therefore,  that  a  bed  is  moved  there,  and  a  table  and  2 
chairs  and  anything  else  serviceable  vo  them.  See  that 
they  have  a  fire  in  their  house  on  Wednesday,  and  send 
some  supper  and  beer  there.  I  prefer  that  to  their  sup- 
ping at  our  house  and  being  contaminated  by  our  servants. 
See  them  yourself,  darling,  and  speak  kindly  to  them, 
would  CO  like  to  speak  to  Ann  about  leaving — or,  as  it 
would  bore  00,  perhaps  wait  till  me  comes — do  as  00  please, 
it  docs  not  matter. 

Leigh  Hunt  does  not  speak  uujustly  of  Byrou  nor  abuao 
him,  as  far  as  the  extracts  go.  He  seems  to  treat  him  with 
t!ie  greatest  impartiality. 

Me  is  so  sorry  to  hoar  00  has  sucli  a  cold.  Do  take  the 
greatest  care  of  00  poor  darling  self  and  believe  in  the 
unceasing  love  and  devotion  of  00  own  own 

PurPT. 

CCXXIX. 

[Offer  for  the  "Piilace."] 

Dearest  And  Darlingest, — Me  has  nothing  to  tell  00 
and  me  is  much  ]iressed  for  time. 

However  me  knows  00  wish  to  hear  from  me,  and  there- 
fore write.  Me  fears  it  will  be  some  days  yet  before  me 
can  come  owing  to  these  servants  !  Send  me  as  me  told  00, 
Mr.  Massy's  address. 

Oo  OWN  Pups. 

Warren's  trial  put  off  till  to-morrow.  Me  sail  hear 
about  the  "  Palace  "  to-morrow — me  has  offered  £14,000  !  !  ! 
Tell  Evans  that  tho' I  gave  him  with  my  own  hand  my 
pomatum  and  my  tooth  powder  he  never  put  them  up.  He 
also  forgot  my  shaving  brush. 


Lord  Lyttons   Letters.  327 

coxxx. 

To  Mrs.  L.  Bulwer,  Wooclcot,  near  Nettlebed,  Oxon. 

["Pelham." — Visit  to  St.   Giles'  with  Villiers  and  a  Bow  Street 

officer.] 

Jan'y  7^*.  1828. 

Darlingest  And  Dearest, — Me  is  very  very  sorry  to  hear 
00  is  so  ill.  Me  wishes  00  would  send  for  medical  advice. 
Do,  my  own  poor  dear  poodle  !  Me  will  loso  no  time  in 
hasting  to  00  ;  but  it  would  be  useless  and  indeed  a  cruel 
kindness  to  do  so  till  we  are  settled  with  these  servants.  I, 
too,  have  been  very  ill.  I  though  yesterday  night  I  should 
have  died,  the  pain  in  my  heart  was  so  acute,  but  I  am 
better  now — indeed,  quite  restored. 

I  have  this  day  taken  the  first  Vol.  of  ''Pelham  "  back 
to  Colburn.  Saw  Forbes — civil  and  obsequious  us  usual, 
but  evidently  think  very  little  of  *'  Pelham.'^ 

Evans  did  not  put  up  my  shaving  brush.  I  shall  ride 
down  when  I  return  on  my  little  mare,  which  will  be  in 
Town  to-night. 

I  have  been  seeing  after  a  maid  for  you  and  have  seen 
two — very  likely — one  very  respectable  indeed,  has  been  4 
or  5  years  with  a  dressmaker,  understands  dressing  hair, 
washing  fine  linen,  etc.,  etc.,  very  humble  and  civil  and 
wilhng,  very  young  and  never  been  in  service  ;  the  other 
older,  about  28,  been  in  service,  understands  dressmaking, 
etc.,  but  not  so  well  as  the  other,  will  oflnciate  as  house- 
keeper, and  tho'  willing  to  be  useful,  is  rather  more  fine 
ladyish  and  less  prepossessing  than  the  other.  Let  me 
know  which  you  prefer  ;  one  or  the  other  you  must  have. 

I  am  going  to-night  to  write  to  Bolton  Massy,  and  am 
afterwards  going  among  the    thieves    and  magsraen  and 


328  Lord  Lyttons  Letters. 

''prigs  "of  St.  Giles."  They  will  furnish  a  scene  in  my 
next  novel.  Villiers  is  going,  as  well  as  a  Bow  St.  ofi&cer  ; 
so  we  are  quite  safe.     God  bless  00,  my  Poodle. 

Oo  OWN  Puppy. 
I  hope  you  make  the  little  boy  keep  to  the  hour  I  had 
effected  before  I  left,  viz.  eleven.     Is  William  about  the 
huuse  now  ?     He  ouffht  not  to  be. 


CCXXXI. 

To  Mks.  L.  Bulwee,  "Woodcot,  near  Nettlebed,  Oxon. 

[Domestic. — Change  of  Ministry — the  place  and  chance  of  Baronetcy 
gone. — Lady  Caroline.] 

Jany.  10<a  1828. 

My  Darlingest  and  Dearest, — Thank  heaven  for  your 
letter,  which  I  rec^  this  morning.  As  for  that  rascal  the 
postman,  I  only  wait  till  to-morrow  to  receive  a  more 
circumstantial  account  from  you,  before  I  complain,  which 
I  shall  do  in  the  strongest  manner. 

At  hist  me  has  got  00  a  very  nice  maid,  understands 
dressmaking  perfectly,  hair  dressing  and  Iwusekeeping.  I 
am  to  enquire  her  character  to-morrow,  and  if  it  suits,  she 
will  come  in  a  week.  I  have  also  got  a  cook,  a  French  cook, 
a  man  cook.  Now  don't  frown,  dearest  I  He  will  be  very 
economical,  and  his  wages  are  not  more  than  a  woman 
cook'e.  I  regret  Miss  Landon  should  leave  just  as  he 
comes,  tho'  she  is  not  like  Rousseau's  ''Julie,"  un  pen 
gourmande  I  have  got  your  toupee.  The  Ministers  are 
out — Peel  is  to  be  Prime  Minister,  and  my  pUice  and 
Baronetcy  to  go  to  the  devil. 

If  possible  (that  is,  if  I  get  the  maid's  character  in  time), 
I  will  be  v/ith  you  to-morrow  ;  if  not,  certainly  on  Saturday. 
Of  course  you  will  take  Miss  L.  to  Reading  when  she  goes. 
I  write  in  the  greatest  hurry.     I  have  seen  Lady  Caroline  ; 


Lord  Lyttons  Letters,  329 

more  of  lier  when  we  meet.     She  is  so  dreadfully,  woefully 
altered.     I  have  seen  Haydon's  picture. 

Tell  Miss  L.  {'pour  des  rai'^ons)  that  I  have  had  the  offer 
of  ii  peerage.  My  own  darling,  don't  bo  angry  with  me  for 
gel  ting  00  a  maid — I  do  it  for  my  sake.  She  shall  make 
all  00  dresses,  and  save  us  a  world  in  economy ;  besides,  00 
had  one  before  00  married,  and  my  Rose  is  not  to  lose  a 
single  comfort  with  one  whose  greatest  happiness  it  is  to  see 
her  happy. 

Adieu,  My  Poodle. 

YouE  OWN  Pup. 

I  have  seen  Mrs.  Dorden,  who  never  ment  us  to  pay. 

CCXXXII. 

To  Mrs.  Edward  Bulwer,  Watlington  Park,  near  Net- 
tlebed.  Oxen. 

["  Pelham." — Lizzard  Conneil — "  Sayings  and  Doings."] 

Fehy.  2'*'^  1828. 

My  Dearest  And  Poodle'est, — I  write  {as  usual)  in  a 
great  hurry  to  save  the  post.  I  have  seen  Pressbury — noth- 
ing done  yet ;  but  I  hope  by  Tuesday  all  will. 

I  saw  Oilier  to-day  ;  he  speaks  (to  my  great  surprise)  in 
the  highest  terms  of  "  Pelham  " — says  nothing  has  come 
out  to  equal  to  it  since  "  Anastasius  " — thinks  it  will  suc- 
ceed greatly — nous  verrons  ! 

No  other  news  as  yet.  Don't  answer  Mrs.  Blackie's 
letter  ;  I  shall  not.  Maria  is  now  very  anxious  to  return, 
but  of  course  I  shall  not  retake  her.  My  poor,  poor,  dear 
Rose  !  Me  is  very,  very  sorry  to  hear  00  is  ill ;  but  keep  to 
the  ether,  and  I  have  no  doubt  you  will  get  rid  of  the  pain. 
W™  is  by  no  means  a  bad  D"".,  and  you  may  follow  his  Pss. 
safely. 

I  have  commissioned  Loaden  to  see  about  Lizzard  Con- 


2,2)0  Lord  Lyttotis  Letters. 

nell,  but  he  thinks  it  will  take  all  the  summer  to  expedite 
the  sale.  ''  Sayings  and  Doings "  are  out — very  good. 
Everybody  abuses  Leigh  Hunt,  even  Oilier. 

God  bless  you,  my  darling  ;  take  all  care  of  oo  dear  self, 
and  believe  in  the  love  of  oo  own,  own, 

P.  P. 

CCXXXIII. 

To  Mes.  Edward  Bulwer,  Woodcot  House,  Nettlebed, 

Oxon. 

[Cockburu's  MS. — Proposes  obtaining  tbe  Doyle  Baronetcy.] 

Feby.  18<^  1828. 

My  Darlingost  Poodle. — Me  mourned  very  much  after 
you  left  me,  and  was  exactly  like  a  dog  who  has  lost  its 
mistress,  all  day.  Yesterday  me  dined  with  y®  Gasooignes 
— only  W'"  and  I.  I  was  rather  bored,  but  they  were  very 
kind  and  gave  us  some  tolerably  good  bones.  Yesterday 
morning  me  woke  with  a  wretched  cold,  and  consequently 
stayed  in  and  wrote  all  the  morning  till  me  went  to  din- 
ner. 

Me  called  on  Colburn  with  Cocklnirn's  MS.   the  day 

00  left.  He  was  very  cool,  and  almost  groAvled  at  me, 
upon  which  me  shewed  my  teeth  and  the  affair  finished. 

Me  is  quite  rejoiced  to  hear  oo  got  down  safely,  not- 
withstanding the  unpleasant  journey.  Pray  write  to  me 
every  day  till  I  come  which  may  be  Thursday,  and  cer- 
tainly Friday  at  farthest — that  is,  if  I  can  get  a  cook. 

To-day  Curtis  asked  me  if  I  knew  a  Major  Fuller,  who 
had  told  him  some  time  since  that  he  was  related  to  the 
Bulwer  family  ! 

My  ear  is  just  the  same.  I  saw  Lady  Greslcy's  car- 
riage to-day  with  Henry  behind  it  !  you  know  what  Henry 

1  mean.     I  also  met  Piggot  to-day,  who  offered  to  let  me 


Lord  Lyttons  Letters.  331 

liis  place  in  Suffolk  for  21  years  for  nothing  if  I  would 
keep  up  the  place  and  manor  in  good  ernest,  I  am  sick  of 
the  country,  tho'  I  look  forward  with  much  pleasure  to  my 
return  to  Woodcot.  Me  found  00  brushes  and  will  bring 
tliem  with  me.  Pray  darling,  what  think  you  of  a 
thought  that  has  come  into  my  head  ?  Sir  John  Milly 
Do3dc  is  surely  the  last  person  your  Uncle  would  leave  his 
Baronetcy  to  ;  Frank  is  to  provide  for.  It  does  not  stem 
to  me  he  has  any  nearer  connection  than  your  husband  and 
your  children — if  so  don't  you  think  it  would  be  worth 
writing  to  your  mother  about  me  ?  She  might  do  what 
me  would  not — suggest  it  to  Sir  John  Doyle,  Think  over 
this  well ;  it  occurred  both  to  Wi°  and  myself. 
Adieu,  my  darlingest  and  dearest  ! 

COXXXIV. 

To  Mrs.   E.   L.   Bulwer,  Woodcot    lloase,    Nettlebed, 
Oxfordshire. 

[Domestic  Matters. — Sale  of  Irish  property. — Miss  Norton,] 

Feb.  29<^  1828. 

My  Darling  Love  And  Poodle, — I  was  too  much  occu- 
pied about  those  cursed  cooks  all  clay  yesterday  to  be 
able  to  write  to  00,  driving  it  off  till  it  became  too  late. 
While  I  was  in  the  act  of  discharging  one,  Cresson  made 
his  appearance.  After  many  hums  and  ha's,  ho  expressed 
his  great  willingness  to  re-enter  my  service.  He  spoke 
with  mucli  respect  about  00,  and  complained  of  the  former 
confusion,  changmg  servants,  etc,  and  of  Prcssbury's 
removing  the  3  obnoxious  parties,  Now,  tho' I  dismissed 
Iiim,  negativing  his  proposal,  yet  I  own  to  00  that  I  sliould 
very  well  like  to  retake  liim,  viz.  if  it  were  possible  to  hope 
for  any  peace  in  such  an  arrangement.  Pray  think  you 
that  the  kitchen-maid  could  cook  the  servants'  dinners. 


332  Lord  Lyttorts  Letters. 

and  so  receive  her  orders  from  Pressbnry,  and  Oresson  only 
have  to  do  oars  ?  what  think  you  ?  As  it  is  I  have  seen 
several  cooks,  but  none  good  nough — they  object  to  Press- 
bury's  control.  1  fear  I  shall  be  forced  to  return  without, 
and  in  tliat  case  shall  leave  instructions  to  have  one  sent 
di)un.  I  myself  shall  in  all  probability  come  to-morrow, 
for  I  see  no  good  in  staying  for  my  ear  ;  and  the  only 
thing  which  will  prevent  me  is  Cockburn's  MS.  I  think 
however,  that  unless  I  see  a  cook  likely  to  suit  to  morrow — 
and  so  stay  for  her  character — I  shall  be  certain  to  como, 
the'  joerhiips  not  before  8  or  9  o'clock,  and  then  we  can 
both  talk  over  Cresson,  etc. 

Loaden  was  with  me  this  morning.  He  has  heard 
from  Ireland  (It  is  very  odd  Massy  docs  not  write).  How- 
ever, I  foresee  it  will  be  a  full  year,  at  least,  before  the 
place  is  sold.  I  hope  the  gardener  and  wife  are  no  longer 
staying  in  the  house.  If  oo  does  not  like,  my  own  darling, 
to  write  to  oo  mother,  oo  certainly  shan't.  Mrs.  Paynter 
Avas  met  by  a  friend  of  mine  the  other  night  at  the  Duke 
of  Devonshire's,  and  thought  prettier  than  Miss  Sheridan 
(now  Mrs.  Norton),  who  was  also  there.  I  have  no  other 
news. 

I  dine  with  Cockburn.  I  begin  an  injection  for  the 
ear  to-night.  Have  a  bed  for  the  groom,  who  will  come 
with  me,  and  wlioni  I  like  very  well.  The  great  objec- 
tion to  Cresson  is  his  not  knowing  English.  That  is  the 
cause  of  all  the  quarrels. 

Ever  darling  and  Poodliesfc, 

Oo  owK  Pups. 


Lord  Lyttons  Letters.  333 


CCXXXV. 

To  Mrs.  E.   L.    Bulwek,    Woodcot,    Hoase    Nettlebed, 
Oxfordshire. 

[Col.  Ormsby. — Offer  of  £1700  for  a  seat  in  Ptirliameat.J 

March  251'^  1828. 

My  Dearest  Poodle, — I  am  waiting  in  for  Col.  Ormsby, 
the'  I  think  it  very  likely  he  may  not  come,  for  it  is  now 
much  Inter  than  ye  time  appointed.  I  have  seen  Cockburn  ; 
from  what  I  hear  there  is  no  objection  to  the  Borough 
itself.  Here  is  Col.  Ormsby.  I  have  had  a  very  satis- 
factory interview  with  him,  and  have  offered  £1700.  He 
is  to  let  me  know  on  Thursday  whether  it  will  be  accepted. 
Shall  we  talk  to-morrow  about  it  ?  I  have  been  to  2  or  3 
places  about  cooks — no  news  as  yet.  I  shall  call  on  Loaden 
to-morrow. 

No  uews  of  any  sort  in  the  world.  Met  Sheridan,  who 
seemed  much  struck  with  you.  Col.  Ormsby  is  such  a 
handsome  old  fellow.  I  have  been  trying  to  Avrite  but  can- 
not. I  dine  with  Cockburn  to-day  ;  travelled  up  in  the 
coach  with  a  deaf  man  and  a  little  boy  ;  the  latter  called 
the  former  "  Uncle  Edward,"  and  the  former  offered  me  a 
Sandwich  and  a  biscuit,  neither  of  which  I  accepted. 
Adieu,  dearest  Poodle  !  God  bless  oo.  Pray  say  exactly 
how  00  is,  and  believe  in  the  love  of  oo  own 

Pups. 

Mivart's,  Brook  St.     Direct  here. 


334  Lord  LyttorCs  Letters, 


CCXXXVI. 

To  Mrs.   E.   L.   Bulwer,   "Woodcot    House,  Nettlebed, 

Oxfordshire. 

[Raising  money  for  purchase  of  seat  in  Parliament.] 

Marcli  27*'^  1828. 

My  Own  Dear  Kind  Good  Angel, — Me  does  really  feel 
for  00  from  my  heart ;  me  often  thinks  that  me  seems 
indifferent  and  brutal  to  oo,  but  me  never,  never  is  so,  in 
truth  and  earnest.  God  bk-ss  and  keep  and  makes  oo  soon 
well,  my  dearest,  dear  love.  I  liave  been  on  business  the 
whole  day.  I  have  seen  Lake  about  the  Borough  ;  he  has 
promised  to  rais  the  money  for  me  if  I  wanted.  I  have 
been  to  the  Bank.  I  have  seen  Loaden,  who  has  sanguine 
hope  of  making  a  very  good  title — I  have  also  been  after  a 
cook,  but  without  success.  I  think  we  must  take  Mc- 
Dowell after  all.  I  am  to  see  her  to-morrow.  All  things 
seem  to  wear  a  biight  aspect  at  present,  but  to-morrow  in 
all  probability  will  decide  about  the  Boro'.  I  am  then  to 
meet  the  Principal  at  1  o'clock  at  Tom's  Coffee  House, 
Cornhill  I — A  person  has  already  started  for  Sudbury,  and 
there  is  a  long  account  of  it  in  the  Times,  but  1  place  no 
count  as  the  common  people  say.  Pray  tell  me  all  that 
Baily  said,  and  all  oo  did  at  Reading,  my  own  dearest, 
darlingest  Poodle.  There  is  a  levee  to-day  Sheridan  has 
gone — I  called  on  him  in  ye  morning  :  he  was  dressing  and 
looked  very  well.  Adieu.  Your  more  than  ever  fond  and 
devoted  and  doating 

Puppy. 

Me  dines  with  Cockburn  to-day.  Me  went  to  the  play 
FREE  and  saw  Obi,  3  fingered  Jack  ! 


Lord  Lyttons  Letters.  335 


COXXXVII. 

[The  Borough  gone. — "Pelham"  to  be  out  at  Easter.] 

March  '1%^"^  1828. 
My  Darlingest  And  Wittiest  And  Prettiest  Poodle,  me 
has  only  time  to  write  three  words,  l^^tto  thank  you  for  your 
letter,  2°'i'i'  to  say  that  it  is  all  over — *' D — d  Boro' is  a 
boro  d — (],"  Si'diy  I  possibly  may  come  to  Woodcot  to-morrow, 
but  more  probably  the  next  day,  which  I  will  let  you  know 
— I  cant  find  any  cook. 

I  have  seen  your  Uncle,  it  is  possible  that  he  may  come 
down  at  Easter  ;  he  looks  well.  I  have  likewise  seen  Col- 
burn.  "  Pelham  "  is  to  be  out  very  soon  after  Easter.  He 
has  i^romised  to  send  me  a  copy  to-night ;  if  so  me  will 
come  down  to  see  00  in  me's  dress  coat. 
Ever  yours,  00 


E.  L.  B. 


CCXXXVIII. 


["Pelham."— Chfiftge  of  Ministry. — Proposes  to  write  a  "Stinging 
pamphlet.''] 

May  28th  1828. 
My  Dearest  Rose  And  Poodle, — I  arrived  safely  at  Hen- 
ley— but  wet  thro^  However  I  dried  myself  by  the  fire  in 
the  kitchen,  ordered  a  chaise  and  reached  London  at  3^  past 
6.  "Went  to  Brookes'.  Henry  not  there ;  proceeded  to 
Craven's.  Horrid  place  !  but  seems  cheap  ;  not  there  also  ; 
left  a  line  for  him,  and  repaired  to  the  Athenseum  to  dine  ; 
while  there  Heni'y  arrived.  He  looks  very  thin,  poor  fellow. 
Ho  goes  back  to-night  ;  he  says  he  came  to  England  because 
my  mother  was  so  unwell.  She  however  is  now  quite  recov- 
ered. Speaks  very  bitterly  of  me  and  my  letters.  Cest 
igall  the  offence  is  on  her  side. 


33^  Lord  Lyttoiis  Letters. 

I  find  "  Pelham  "  taking  among  the  better  classes,  but 
Henry  says  Colburn  spoke  coldly  of  its  success.  Neverthe- 
less he  puffs  it  greatly.  He  has  now  very  judiciously 
inserted  the  extract  from  the  Literary  Gazette.  I  can't  ;is 
yet  find  out  that  it  is  reviewed  elsewhere.  My  Mother  h;is 
it,  and  calls  it  "  very  poor,"  "  Vulger,"  "no  plot."  "  SaLi- 
thicl "  takes. 

The  ministry  all  out,  and  they  talk  of  Sir  Henry  Hard- 
inge  and  Sir  G.  Murray  composing  the  Administration. 
Quite  a  military  Government.  If  it  is  true  I  think  I  shall 
write  a  most  stinging  pamphlet,  by  the  "Author  of  'Pel- 
ham.'  " 

I  shall  call  on  Sir  J.  Doyle  probably  to-morrow,  but  am 
not  certain.  You  may  depend  upon  seeing  me  back  by 
Sunday.  I  long  most  anxiously  to  hear  from  you,  all  about 
your  party,  and  especially  of  your  safe  return  ;  nor,  altho' 
my  own  dearest  Poodle  is  sometimes  unjust  to  me,  and 
wounds  me  more  than  she  or  I  can  express,  by  doubting  my 
love  for  her,  do  1  ever  think  of  her  without  a  fondness  and 
tenderness  which  hereafter  she  may  appreciate  more. 
God  bless  oo  dearest, 

Oo  owjsr  Pups. 

CCXXXIX. ' 

[Cockburn's fellowship. — Exhibition  of  Royal  Academy.] 

May  2Wi  1828. 
My  Dearest  Poodle, — I  received  your  letter  safely, 
together  with  the  Flowers,  for  which  me  is  very  much 
obliged  to  oo,  and  which  me  has  put  into  my  bosom  to 
contrast  with  the  flesh  ones  perpetually  springing  up  there 
for  00  !  !  !  Humph  !  me  sends  oo  a  critique  from  the 
London  Weekly  (very  unsatisfactory).  Admire  their  say- 
ing I  succeed  better  in  the  comic  than  the  serious  !  I  find 
strangers  think  "  Pelham"  good,  but  that  all  my  friends 


Lord  Lytto7is   Letters.  337 

are  disappoiiifecl.  Cockburn  (one  among  the  many)  has 
got  his  fellowship.  Henry  is  off  to  Paris.  I  had  a  long 
conversation  with  "  Sir  John  "  yesterday,  who  is  going  to 
the  Isle  of  Wight  in  a  few  days.  He  has  promised  to 
write  to  00.  It  is  very  strange  and  very  unlucky  aboub 
Miss  Landon's  not  writing.  I  now  merely  stay  for  Col- 
burn's  book  and  the  monthly  reviews,  so  that  you  may  be 
sure  of  seeing  me  directly  I  escape.  I  am  longing  most 
anxiously  and  eagerly  to  hear  all  about  00  and  how  00  got 
home.     I  feel  perfectly  unhappy  about  00. 

Everybody  says  there  will  bo  no  dissolution  of  Parlia- 
ment. Me  dines  with  Cockburn  to-day,  and  after  that 
will  return  to  my  club  to  spend  the  evening.  Good-bye, 
darling,  God  bless  00,  00  own,  own  booty.  Oo  may  call 
me  Puppy  !  Me  has  been  to  the  Exhibition  ;  there  is  a 
marble  bust  there  of  Jerden,  and  a  picture  by  Miss  Ken- 
rick  of  Lady  Cordelia  Trevanion,  fiery  red  hair,  but  a  lit- 
tle like  Lady  C a  beautiful  picture  of  "  Lady  London- 
derry ";  one  of  Lady  Lyndhurst,  by  Sir  T.  Lawrence  ;  also 
one  of  Valpy  Turner,  Esq.,  in  a  Bengal  Suit  of  Regimen- 
tals ! !  !  Your  mother  has  sent  me  a  printed  thing  from 
the  co-operatives. 

A  duugbter  (Emily  Elizabeth)  was  born  at  Woodcot  on  June  27th, 
1828.  Lady  Lytton  writes,  she  was  not  allowed  to  nurse  her  child, 
as  it  would  take  up  too  much  of  her  time  from  attendance  on,  and 
assistance  to,  her  husband  in  his  literary  hibours  ;  it  was  therefore 
sent  out  to  nurse  at  a  neighboring  farm  house  ;  and  in  consequence 
of  the  separation,  her  eyesight  became  so  much  injured  from  weeping 
that  she  was  ordered  to  tne  seaside  by  her  medical  adviser.  They 
went  to  Weymouth  on  September  19th,  1828.  Mr.  Bulwer  left 
"Weymouth,  December  18th,  and  on  January  19tli,  when  his  wife  was 
to  leave  also,  he  wrote  from  London,  "  How  uneasy  he  is  at  hci 
long,  cold  journey,  and  she  does  quite  right  to  set  out  early  in  the 
morning,  and  will  be  in  readiness  to  meet  her  at  Woodcot  at  3  o'clock 
Wednesday,  but  that  she  need  not  hurry  on  the  road,  and  he  would 


^2,^  Lord  Lyttons  Letters. 

not  be  uneasy  if  she  did  not  come  till  Thursday,  but  will  conclude 
the  journey  has  taken  three  days." 

The  death  of  this  daughter  on  April  29th,  1848,  from  typhoid 
fever,  forms  another  tragic  episode  in  the  life  of  Lady  Lytton,  as 
will  be  more  fully  explained  by  two  letters  at  the  end  of  this  volume, 
one  from  Miss  Katheriiie  Blanche  (an  eye-witness),  the  other  from 
the  Baroness  de  Hitter,  in  whose  charge  Miss  Lytton  had  been 
placed.  Miss  Lytton  died  at  a  small  lodging  house,  21,  Pelham 
Place,  Brompton,  and  not  at  Knebworth,  as  stated  in  the  daily 
papers 

COXL. 

Mes.  Bulwer,  Woodcot  House,  near  Nettlebed,  Oxon. 
[Loan  of  money  by  his  brother.] 

July  10th  1828. 

My  Dearest  And  Darlingest  Poodle, — Me  longs  ardently 
to  hear  how  oo  is.  Post  is  just  going  out  (upon  my  hon- 
our literally)  !  Wm  will  lend  £1000.  I  have  seen  your 
uncle — looks  well.  Got  the  French  translation  of 
''Eebel"!  d — d  bad.  Seen  Colburu  not  decided  yet. 
Adieu !    Most  affecty. 

Your  Own  Pupps. 

Praise  in  the  Belle  Asseniblei ;  mentioned  nowhere  else. 
Emily  dined  with  my  mother. 

COXLI. 

[Colburn.] 

July  11^1^  1828. 
My  Dearest  And  Darlingest  Poodle, — Oo  says  nothing 
about  00  eye,  pray  for  God's  sake  tell  me.  Me  has  been  so 
dreadfully  teased  you  can't  think  !  Colburn  only  offers 
£500,  but  I  certainly  won't  take  less  than  £800,  and  I  have 
had  other  things  too  to  plague  me.  Can't  get  rid  of  my 
horse.     However,  all  these  when  we  meet. 


Lord  Lytto7is  Letters.  339 

Me  is  very  sorry  to  hear  about  poor  Miss  Greene.  My 
French  master,  Jcrard,  dines  with  me  to-day.  Pray  for- 
give me  for  not  writing  more,  me  is  too  late  as  usual  ! 
God  bless  and  keep  00,  my  own  darling  darling  Kose,  and 
pray  tell  me  all  about  00. 

0  OWN",  OWN,  OWN  Pups. 

Me  sail  be  back  at  7  on  Sunday. 

COXLII. 

[Pedigree.— Baronetcy.— Raising     Money. — Colburn. — "The     Dis- 
owned."] 

July  Vm^  1828. 
My  Own  Darling  And  Angel  Love, — Why — why  is  me 
so  unworthy  of  00.  Dearest,  how  me  does  love  00  !  But 
00  eye  ?  00  does  not  mention  that,  me  does  so  wish  that  00 
would  tell  me  all  about  it,  and  00 — 00  cannot  think  how 
plagued  me  has  been.  1st  of  all  about  de  Puppy  pedigree ; 
2ndly,  about  de  BarL%  which  mo  hopes  is  certain  ;  3rdly, 
about  raising  de  money,  wliicli  me  can  do  !  !  !  4thly,  and 
worse  than  all  put  together,  that  d — d  Colburn.  He  has 
offered  me  various  sums,  and  it  now  rests  in  this  way  £800 
for  this,  or  £900  pounds  for  tliis,  and  this  2nd  Edition  of 
*'Pelham."  This  is  to  be  decided  on  this  condition — that 
Mr.  Oilier  may  come  bere  and  look  over  one  or  two  pass- 
ages. If  he  likes  them,  the  bargain  is  to  be  struck.  Noth- 
ing can  behave  fairer  than  Colburn  has  done.  He  has 
shewn  me  that  it  is  quite  impossible  for  him  to  afford 
more.  Croly  got  for  "  Salathiel"  only  £300.  I,  in  my 
turn,  was  fair,  for  this  proposition  about  Oilier  was  entirely 
from  me.  I  own  I  tremble,  but  it  was  riglit  and 
proper  that  he  should  not  make  a  great  risk  for  a  book 
which  I  cannot  guarantee  to  him,  for  I  myself  am  doubt- 
ful about   the   ''Disowned."      ''Never   mind!"  as  poor 


340  Lord  Ly lions  Letters. 

Lady   C.  used  to  say.     Oilier  breakfasts  here  to-morrow, 
and  we  shall  then  see  what's  to  be  done. 

I  hope  to  be  with  you  on  Sunday  evs.,  but  may  bo 
detained  till  Monday.  I  have  been  to  Madam  Normand. 
Such  an  imposter  !  told  me  such  lies. 

Dine  with  W^^  to-day  at  G.  Has  not  been  to  Greenwich 
yet.  I  talked  to  Bull,  thei^nblisher,  to-day  about  Cockum's 
book.  He  tells  me,  it  is  scarcely  possible  for  any  book  to 
pay  the  publishers.     Comfortable  ! 

God  bless  you,  my  own,  own,  own  darling. 

Zoo  Pups  axd  King  Boots,  Bart. 

COXLIII. 

[Lawyers.] 

Aug.  14^'^  1828. 

My  Own  Dear  Rose, — I  have  seen  Wood  again,  and 
believe  there  is  now  no  doubt  of  it.  I  will  be  down  on 
Saturday.  Send  over  on  Saturday  Morning  by  the  carrier 
to  Nettlebed  for  my  books  and  things. 

Better  not  have  Martha  Fawn  till  Sunday,  and  try  only 
those  made  dishes  she  is  a  certain  of  making  well.  Better 
have  the  soup  to  try  on  Friday.  Maid  Andrew.  Oo  is  a 
sensible  Darling  about  Reinheim  ;  me  has  written  to  Broder 
W™  for  some  pocket  money,  and  also  to  Broder  H.  Me 
called  on  Frank  to-day  and  paid  him.  He  is  looking  very 
well ;  promises  to  see  us  in  Sepf.  Your  cousins  looked 
thin,  Fanny  quite  fallen  off,  but  Di  very  pretty.  I  also  saw 
your  Uncle,who  enquired  after  you  very  kindly. 

Adieu,  my  darling  Poodle,  me  is  going  to  run  down  to 
de  Lawyers,  me's  very  glad  !  and  determined,  if  possible, 
to  pay  for  my  toy 
»  Pups  Bart. 

Thoy  went  to  Weymouth  Sept^  19'^  1828. 


Lord  Lytto7is  Letters.  341 


COXLIV. 

Mrs.  Lytton  Bulwer,  8,  Crescent,  Weymouth. 
[He  leaves  for  London.] 

Alout  Bee.  "M^  182S. 

My  Dearest  Rosina  And  Poodle, — the  mail  is  full,  I 
shall  therefore  take  on  John  and  the  horses  to  Blandford 
to-night,  and  proceed  early  to-morrow,  as  far  as  the  horses 
will  go  :  I  shall  then  continue  my  Journey  per  chaise,  and 
reach  Town  to-morrow  night.  John  writes  to  Harris  for 
his  things,  which  will  be  sent  directed  to  the  Atheuasum  as 
soon  as  possible.  Tliere  is  no  rain  at  all.  I  send  this 
together  with  my  2  cloaks  by  the  mail  cart. 

E.  L.  B. 

I  am  afj-aid  of  writing  more  for  fear  my  letter  should  be 
read,  but  aboTO  all  be  well. 

CCXLV. 

To  Mrs.  Bulwer,  8,  Crescent,  Weymouth,  Dorsetshire. 
["Pelham." — Expected  creation  of  Peers  and  Baronetcies.] 

Dec.  23rd,  1828. 
My  Dearest  And  Darlingest  Love, — After  a  long  weari- 
some journey  on  the  top  of  the  Magnet  Stage  I  arrived  in 
Town,  cold,  hungered,  and  out  of  curl,  about  10  o'clock. 
Immediately  wrote  to  my  Mother,  but  it  was  too  late  to 
send  the  letter.  Accordingly,  after  refreshing  the  gastric 
juices  with  some  soup,  etc.,  I  looked  over  the  papers  and 
reviews.  Nothing  of  any  consequence  therein  except  2  or 
3  violefif  attacks  upon  the  "MS.  found  in  a  madhouse,'' 
and  notice  on  the  introduction  of  the  "Disowned,"  in  the 
London  Magazine  for  last  month,  with  a  promise  to  review 


342  Lord  Lyttoii^s  Letters. 

the  T7hole  books  in  January.     Thus  passed  the  hours  till 
bedtime. 

This  morniug  my  letter  went  to  my  Mother !  0 
Poodle  !  She  left  Town  on  Saturday  night !  was  there 
ever  anything  more  provoking  ?  However  we  must  make 
the  best  of  things.  I  have  written  requesting  to  see  her 
in  the  most  affectionate  manner  saying  that  I  will  either 
come  to  Knebworth  [!  !  !]  or  return  to  Town  when  she 
does. 

After  breakfast,  which  is  a  very  melancholy  operation 
at  this  news  of  my  Mother's  departure,  I  went  to  W"  a 
very  handsome  house  it  is.  Fine  large  high  rooms.  W™ 
the  same  as  ever,  and  Emily.  They  were  both  most  kind 
in  their  enquiries  after  you,  and  their  regrets  at  my 
account.  They  asked  me  to  dine  but  I  would  not,  and  pro- 
ceeded to  Colburn's,  where  I  made  an  appointment  to  see 
Oilier  to-morrow. 

Met  Charles  Villiers,  who  wa?  mighty  complimentary 
about ''  Pelham,"  and  says  that  the  Duchess  of  Bedford  and 
the  elite  of  la  Noblesse  that  he  has  seen,  say  that  *'  he  is  the 
happiest  fellow  possible  to  know  the  Author  !"  But  (this 
is  very  good)  he  added  that  it  is  now  contradicted  in  con- 
sequence of  the  dedication  of  the  "  Disowned,''  of  that  I 
have  as  yet  heard  nothing.  At  %  past  8  came  Mr.  Ward, 
who  sa3^s  the  creations  are  to  be  2nd  of  Jany  (Friday  week.) 

Entwistle  who  has  £40,000  a  year,  is  to  be  one,  and  was 
to, have  bought  it  for  £8000,  but  does  not  now.  Henry, 
I  have  not  yet  seen  ;  some  matrimonial  expedition  is  on  the 
tains  W"  says.  Your  parcel  comes  safe.  Many  thanks 
for  it.  It  cost  me  35s.  And  now,  my  own  darlingest  of 
Poodles  and  dearest  of  loves  and  nicest  of  little  dogs,  may 
God  bless  00,  and  take  care  of  oo,  and  pray  my  own  own 
Poodle,  take  care  of  oo  darling  self,  and  go  often  to  the 
Brownesif  they  ask  you,  and  keep  out  of  the  wet  and  above 
all  amuse  ooself  and  keep  oo  spirits  up.     I  have  not  a  doubt 


Lord  Lyttons  Letters.  343 

in  my  own  mind  that  my  mother  will  see  me  at  Knebwortli  ; 
she  went  there  suddenly.  There  has  been  a  quarrel  among 
the  servants,  so  we  are  not  the  only  people  plagued.  Once 
more  00  own,  own,  own. 

Asparagus  Acorn  Pup  Bobadil  of  Boots  K 

AV™  says  he  saw  Sir  Milley  ;  calls  him  a  strange-looking 
fellow. 

Your  Uncle  is  looking  amazingly  well  according  to  Wm. 

COXLVI. 

To  Mrs.  L.  Bulwer,  Weymouth,  Dorsetshire, 

[Reviews. — Child's  illness.] 

Dec.  2Wi,  1828. 
-  My  Dearest  And  Angelcst  And  Darlingest  Poodle, — 
Many  thanks  to  00  little  note  which  cost  me  5s. :   seeing 
that  the  franks  having  been  opened  the  postman  considered 
it,  very  justly,  no  longer  a  grant  at  all. 

I  have  seen  Oilier  but  we  had  no  talk  upon  **  Devereux," 
neither  of  us  inti'oducing  the  subject.  He  says  however 
that  a  third  edition  of  the  "  Disowned "  will  probably  be 
soon  called  for.  So  far  so  good.  I  have  seen  a  French 
review  of  "  Pelliam  "  in  the  Revue  Encyclopedique.  Such 
a  thing  !  does  not  praise  it  much.  I  have  also  in  a  letter 
from  Jullien  an  offer  to  write  in  the  Kevue  at  about  £5  or 
£6  a  sheet.     Fancy  !  !  ! 

I  saw  Henry  last  night.  He  is  looking  well ;  full  of 
plans,  etc.,  and  made  Pups  pay  him  £20.  D — d  Bore  !  I 
am  very  sorry  indeed  to  hear  that  the  child  has  been  ill.  I 
shall  lose  no  time  in  seeing  it.  Do  tell  me  what  Mrs.  Van 
says  about  a  nurse,  and  I  will  see  about  Mead. 

I  dine  at  W'°'«  to-day,  and  I  am  writing  this  before. 
Me  is  too  sorry  my  own  dearest  love  that  00  darling  head 
ached  when  00  wrote.     Do  tell  me  all  about  00,  and  above 


344  Lord  Lyttoris  Letters. 

all  00  be  cheerful  and  liappy  as  it  is  the  only  way  to  make 
me  so.     I  hope  to  hear  from  my  Mother  to-morrow. 

God  ever  love  and  bless  oo  my  dearest  dearest  Love. 
Oo  own 

Pups  A  A.  and  B  B. 

;  COXLVII. 

[Letter  from  his  Mother  and  reply.] 

Xmas-day. 

Many  Many  more  happy  returns  to  oo  mine  own  Rose. 
My  dearest  and  darlingest  Poodle,  thank  oo  thousand  times 
for  00  pretty  letter,  red  and  black  being  as  anything  between 
us  ought  to  be  a  mixture  of  the  King  Charles  and  Blenheim. 
After  me  wrote  to  yesterday  me  went  to  W™  ;  Emily  was 
too  unwell  to  dine  with  us,  tho'  she  appeared  after  dinner. 
Henry  favored  us  with  some  of  his  plans,  and  so  passed  the 
evening.  This  morning  came  a  letter  from  my  Mother 
which  I  will  enclose  to  oo,  knowing  my  own  darling  what 
pleasure  the  kindness  of  its  tone  will  give  you.  She  does 
not  say  a  word  about  seeing  me,  but  she  evidently  will.  I 
have  not  yet  answered  the  letter  but  shall  when  I  have 
finished  this. 

Emily  and  W'"  spoke  in  raptures  of  oo  cap  and  said  it 
was  a  "Masterpiece  of  work.''  I  never  saw  them  so  warm 
about  anything  before  !  This  in  return  for  oo  little  ling 
account  of  de  Brownes' praises  of  the  ''Disowned"!  By 
the  way  there  are  in  that  Examiner  you  sent  me  3  Extracts 
from  the  "Disowned"  without  comment.  Me  sent  oo 
parcel  to  oo  mother  yesterday  tho'  without  calling,  which 
me  sail  do  before  me  leaves  Town.  Me  does  hope  most 
earnestly  that  oo  darling  throat  is  well  by  this  time,  and 
that  00  dines  to-day  with  the  Brownes. 

Me  should  like  oo  very  much  to  go  to  the  Theatre  if  oo 
is  well,  and  if  the  Brownes  go,  but  not  to  risk  oo  darling 


Lord  Lyttons  Letters.  345 

chest.      He  dines  solitarily  with  "W^    and   Emily  to-day. 
Mg  sail  now  leave  off  till  mo  has  written  to  my  mother. 

Me  has  done  that  now,  and  written  as  you  may  suppose 
such  a  one  as  my  Mother's  present  letter  really  merits. 
Meanwhile  I  shall  remain  in  Town  till  she  returns.  And 
now  my  own  darling  God  love  and  bless  you.  Take  cure  of 
00  dear  self  and  believe  me  most  fondly  and  gratefully  00 
own 

Pups. 

Direct  in  future  to  Craven  St.,  Strand  (Craven  Hotel). 
Open  my  letters  and  send  only  those  needful. 


CCXLVIII. 

To  Mrs.  Bulwer,  Weymouth,  Dorsetshire. 

[No  news.] 

Dec.  2Uli  1838. 

My  Own  Dearest  Love  And  Poodle, — It  gives  me  the 
greatest  concern  to  hear  your  chest  still  continues  to  pain 
you.  I  think  it  must  be  00  naughtiness  in  fretting.  Wliat 
did  you  put  to  your  back  ?  I  hope  it  was  the  plaster — let 
me  know. 

It  is  unfortunate  you  did  not  send  the  letter  from  the 
Military  Office.  Lose  no  time  in  doing  so,  and  send  it  with 
a  paper  or  two  of  Kirklandy^s  that  I  may  apply  for  my  % 
pay. 

I  am  very  much  vexed  to  think  our  child  has  had  a  cold. 
I  will  get  away  to  see  her  soon  as  possible,  and  will  take  care 
she  has  everything  she  can  possibly  want.  She  shall  come 
home,  the  instant  we  do,  and  I  will  speak  myself  to  Mrs. 
Van  about  the  wet  Nurse.  I  dined  yesterday  with  William 
but  there  is  no  news  :  but  I  have  heard  4  pieces  : — 1st,  that 
Sir  Charles  has  got  an  appointment  in  India  where  he  is  to 
go  shortly.     I  don't  know  whether  his  family  go.     2nd, 


34^  Lord  Lyttons  Letters. 

PelJy  wai:^s  to  be  married  in  India  to  a  girl  who  lias  £500 
a  year,  but  his  father  won^t  consent  unless  he  has  more. 
3rdly,  Ben  lives  in  Glostcr  Place.  4thly,  Lord  Percival 
is  married  to  the  daughter  of  a  foreign  Count. 

And  now  my  own  dearest,  dearest  love  me  has  only  one 
word  to  say — about  a  little  present  which  will  go  down  to 

00  to-morrow  morning  by  the  Magnet,  and  which  you  had 
open  by  ooself,  without  Mary,  in  case  oo  wanted  to  have 
any  cf  oo  collars  made  elsewhere.  Me  is  very  much 
grieved  to  send  oo  so  little,  but  me  know  oo  would  scold  me 
too  much  if  me  sent  more.  My  own  dear  Pose,  my  own 
noble  love,  I  do  from  my  heart  wish  that  I  could  in  any 
better  way  pour  out  my  feelings  to  you,  that  I  could  express 
how  deeply  I  feel  your  generous,  devoted,  self-sacrificing 
nature,  your  dear,  dear  cheerfulness  at  all  privations,  or  the 
great  debt  of  gratitude  I  owe  you  for  the  only  real  happi- 
ness I  have  ever  enjoyed.     May  God  bless  you  for  this  tho' 

1  cannot ;  may  you  have  health  and  spirits  to  find  some 
pleasure  in  what  I  sent  you,  which  are  not  worthless, 
because  they  are  made  valuable  by  warm  and  grateful 
wishes,  and  which  you  will  not  be  sorry  or  angry  that  I 
have  sent  you,  when  you  know  the  exceeding  pleasure  it  has 
given  me  to  select  and  send  them. 

Mention  them  each  individually  and  tell  me  how  you 
like  each — and  which  you  like  best.  I  know  how  few  of 
your  real  wants  I  have  supplied,  but  since  I  have  had  the 
selfish  pleasure  of  providing  for  a  few  of  them  I  will  leave 
you,  my  own  generous  darling,  the  more  noble  pleasure  of 
sacrificing  the  others  to  me.  Bless  oo  and  restore  oo  soon 
to  health,  and  may  oo  look  more  beautiful  than  ever  in  oo 
new  ribbons. 

Oo  owiT,  owjT  Pups. 

London, — Oo  silk  stockings  and  gloves  I  get  elsewhere 
and  will  bring  with  me.  Mention  each  article  that  I  may 
know  all  have  reached  oo. 


Lord  Lyttons  Letters.    ,  347 


COXLIX. 

To  Mrs.  E.  L.  Bulwer,  Weymouth,  Dorsitsliire. 
[Letter  from  his  mother. — Postponement  of  "  Creation."] 

Dec  nth  1827. 
My  Dearest  atid  Darlingost  Poodle, — 

Me  is  very  sorry  00  could  not  read  my  mother's  letter 
— it  would  have  pleased  00.  I  have  received  another  to-day, 
from  which  I  make  the  following  extract,  which  I  do, 
solely  because  you  can^t  read  the  writing.  I  copy  Verba- 
tim, dashes  and  all,  first  premising  that  in  my  letter  to  her 
I  had  said  that  the  part  of  her  letter  for  which  I  felt  most 
grateful  was  relitive  to  you  : — "  I  can  now  only  add  that  I 
most  truly  and  feelingly  sympathise  with  you  respecting 
your  wife,  and  hope  slie  may  yet  find  benefit  from  the 
proscription  I  sent,  which  is  reckoned  particularly  strength- 
ening to  the  nerves  of  the  eyes. — "  She  says  besides  that 
she  cannot  come  to  Town  till  the  end  of  next  week  or  the 
beginning  of  the  one  after.  This  is  a  great  bore,  Jis  1  do 
not  Avish  to  stay  so  long  in  Town,  and  therefore  think  I 
may  run  down  to  you  again  for  a  clay  or  two  :  but  this  is 
uncertain.  At  all  events  I  shall  go  down  and  see  the  child, 
in  the  meanwhile,  and  would  go  to-morrow  night,  were  it 
not  for  those  cursed  cooks,  which  is  now  my  sole  business  of 
importance. 

I  have  just  parted  from  Lord  Wallscourt,  who  talked  in 
raptures  of  "Pelham."  I  believe  it  is  the  only  book  he 
has  read  since  ho  left  school.  I  have  since  heard  the 
Baronets  are  again  put  off,  but  the  Peers  come  out  on 
Friday.  I  shudder  to  say  there  is  to  be  an  enormous  batch 
of  Barts. — 16.     I  hope  you  will  have  the  things  before  you 


348  Lord  Lyttons  Letters. 

receive  this.  I  hope  you  will  like  the  cloak  and  shawl  : 
they  are  both  French,  and  there  is  not  another  of  cither  in 
London.  The  old  style  of  cloaks  like  Miss  Browne's  is 
entirely  out,  and  nobody  wears  velvet  bonnets.  Two  of  the 
dresses,  the  blue  merino  and  the  cerise-coloured  silk,  I 
think  ugly,  but  they  are  so  much  the  rage,  that  I  was 
persuaded  into  having  them. 

I  have  sent  you  another  little  Xmas  box  by  the  mail, 
which  I  ment  to  have  given  you  with  my  own  hands,  but 
as  I  am  delayed  and  you  might  like  to  have  it  in  time  for 
the  Meades,  I  send  it  to-night,  and  shall  be  happy,  my  own 
darling  love,  if  00  like  it. 

God  ever  love  and  bless  00,  my  own  dear  darling  love. 

PP.  AA.  BB. 

Tell  John  (and  see  that  he  does  it)  that  the  horses  are 
to  be  separately  exercised,  an  hour  a  day  each.  You  will 
send  the  military  papers  enclosed  to  Fitzgerald  and  directed 
to  me  at  the  Athenaeum. 

CCL. 

To  Mes.  Btjlwer,  Weymouth,  Dorsetshire. 

[Domestic] 

Dec.  %Wi,  1828. 

My  Own  Dearest  And  Darlingest  Poodle, — I  have  not 
a  moment  for  the  post,  but  will  write  one  line,  to  say  00  is 
a  darling  and  me  is  nrach  obliged  for  00  letter  ;  Copy 
Harris's  letter  verbatim,  with  the  date  of  the  charge. 
Me'll  write  00  a  long  letter  to-morrow. 

Ever  00  own  Pups. 


Lord  Lytto7is   Letters.  349 

CCLI. 
To  Mrs.  Bulwer,  Weymouth,  Dorsetshire. 

[Presents. — Domestic. — Removal  to  St.  James's  Place. — Opinions  of 
the  "  Disowned."] 

Dec.  2Wi,  1828. 

My  Own  Dearest  Dear  Love,  My  Own  Prettiest 
Poodle, — I  do  own  that  I  was  wrong  in  sending  you  the 
chain  ;  it  was  too  selfish  in  me,  but  I  really  could  not  help 
it.  It  does  give  me  such  pleasure  to  fancy  I  can  get  you 
anything  you  want,  that  it  is  not  possible  always  to  resist 
it  even  tho'  I  know  my  own  darling  love,  that  it  gives  00 
more  pain  for  the  moment  than  pleasure ;  but  00  is  not 
always  to  be  the  victim  of  00  own  self-denying  and  noble 
nature  ;  and  since  I  am  cold  and  cross  in  manner,  and 
cannot  therefore  always  express  to  00  how  much,  how 
deeply,  how  dearlj-,  I  love  you,  I  cannot  but  take  a  more 
imperfect  and  less  worthy  method  of  doing  so,  and  this  my 
own  dearest  Eose  Poodle  must  be  my  excuse.  I  am  too 
happy  to  think  you  like  the  things.  The  shawl  is  only  a 
French  cachemire,  but  I  thought  the  colours  pretty  and 
new.  I  did  not  see  the  bonnet :  is  it  well  made  and  does 
it  become  00  !  Let  me  know  whether  the  two  plain  hand- 
kerchiefs are  fine,  nearly  as  much  so  as  the  others,  and 
what  they  otight  to  have  cost  each.  They  persuaded  me 
that  those  two  were  bargains  !  Which  of  all  the  four  do 
you  like  best  ?  Is  the  Chantilly  veil  really  good,  and  is  it 
long  enough  ?  I  merely  sent  the  collars  because  of  the 
cnffs,  which  seem  new  and  pretty.  Is  the  chain  long 
enough  ?  I  thought  not.  They  will  make  it  longer  if 
you  like,  and  is  it  thick  enough  ?  or  too  thick  ? 

Me  is  very  glad  00  had  a  kind  letter  from  00  Mother  ! 


350  Lord  Lyttons  Letters. 

very.  Me  shall  call  in  a  day  or  two.  Me  lias  been  seeing 
about  cooks :  not  one  that  will  do  has  yet  appeared. 
Directly  I  have  found  one  I  shall  go  to  see  our  child, 
whom  I  hope  to  find  quite  well,  and  like  oo. 

You  have  by  this  time  I  suppose  seen  the  Examiner  of 
yesterday  ;  desperate  blow  !  It  is  the  nnkiudest  cut  of 
all.  In  case  you  have  not  seen  it,  I  shall  only  say  that  it 
says  that  they  "  have  read  it  through  very  attentively,  and. 
have  not  found  a  single  thing  to  interest  them,  from  the 
1st  i^age  to  the  last."  That  ''the  characters  are  stoney 
and  forced":  in  short — ''that  it  is  a  failure,"  but  still 
confirms  the  impression  made  upon  them  by  "Pelham" 
viz.,  that  it  was  written  by  a  man  *'  eminently  enlightened 
and  accoplished."  I  must  own  it  has  hurt  me  because  it 
is  evidently  written  in  kindness,  and  shows  the  opinion  of 
clever  men  well  disposed  to  do  me  justice. 

Campbell  has  returned  to  Town  :  I  called  yesterday,  but 
he  was  out  :  I  shall  again  soon. 

Finding  the  "Craven"  very  uncomfortable,  and  that  I 
shall  have  to  stay  some  time  in  Town,  I  have  moved  into 
lodgings,  where  you  will  direct  my  letters  in  future  :  5,  St. 
James's  Place,  St.  James's  St.,  London,  and  you  will  send 
by  the  "  Magnet,"  not  the  mail,  as  that  is  dearer,  my 
brown  cloak,  &c.,  and  all  the  MSS.  of  my  new  novel 
"Dovereux,"  together  with  the  calf-skin  cri'J-book  and 
with  all  the  books  about  Peter  the  Great,  even  the  Library 
Books  on  that  subject,  and  the  Volume  on  Voltaire.  If 
my  portmanteau  is  at  Weymouth,  they  may  as  well  come 
in  that,  only  first  have  it  carefully  mended  up  in  the  lock 
and  at  the  side  which  is  torn.  If  the  portmanteau  is  not 
there,  send  them  as  you  like,  only  he  sure  that  the  MSS. 
come  safe  and  are  not  torn  or  hurt.  If  the  portmanteau  is 
there,  it  may  as  well  be  fitted  up  with  all  my  things  that  it 
will  hold,  as  will  save  room  by-and-by,  but  not  unless  the 
portmanteau  is  there,  as  I  don't  want  anything  more  than 


Lord  Lyt toils  Letters.  351 

I  have,  and  they  miglit  get  lost  here.  By-the-bye,  I  bought 
a  few  things  for  Woodcot,  phites,  dishes,  &c.,  a  sort  of 
broken-up  service,  very  plain,  but  I  think  useful,  for  35 
shillings,  at  a  sale  at  Wcdgewood's. 

No  news  here,  God  bless  00,  my  own,  own  darling 
Poodle. 

Ever  00  own,  own,  ownest 

AA.  BB.  &  PP. 

I  open  my  letter  to  say  that  when  you  send  those  things, 
let  me  have  also  any  key  you  may  have  by  which  I  can  get 
at  Sud lam's  bill,  and  write  me  instructions  how  to  get  it. 
Sarah  has  no  key  at  all  j  W"^  has  it. 

CCLII.     ', 

.  To  Mrs.  Bulwer,  Weymouth,  Dorset,  f 
[Domestic] 

Dec.  ^Oth,  1828. 

My  Dearest,  Dearest,  Loved  Poodle, — Oo  is  too,  too  bad 
to  go  on  harping  about  those  things,  when  00  knows  that 
they  are  not  half,  literally  half,  so  many  as  00  ought  to 
have  had.  Oo  only  has  six  morning  and  four  evening 
dresses  sent  00,  and  mo  ought  to  have  sent  00  double  !  So 
no  more  or  me  will !  The  Chain  I  allow  was  selfish  in  me  ; 
the  rest  were  absolute  necessaries  for  00  my  own  darling. 
God  bless,  love,  and  give  00  everything  to  make  00  enjoy 
them. 

Me  went  this  morning  to  Campbell,  who  was  very  civil 
to  enquire  after  you  :  1  did  my  best  to  be  agreeable;  as 
"Pelham"  would  add,  **to  desire  is  to  succeed.'^  I  then 
went  to  00  Uncle's,  very  curt  he  was  too  !  talked  much 
about  the  '*  Disowned,"  which  he  had  evidently  read  (more 
than  I  suspected),  and  the  criticism  in  the  Examiner  did 
not  appear  to  influence  him  as  much  as  I  had  supposed. 
lie  enquired  most  hindJy  after  00,  and  said  00  mother  was 


352  Lord  Lyttous  Letters. 

much  fiffectecl  by  oo  illness.  I  asked  whether  I  could  see 
her  ?  He  says  he  thinks  so,  bnt  I  will  sound  her.  He  was 
more  cordial  than  I  have  ever  known  him.  Just  as  I  was 
leaving,  Sir  Milly  entered.  Upon  my  word  he  is  a  very 
fine,  tall,  stout,  handsome  fellow,  but  looks,  entre  nous,  a 
little  plebian,  but  much  better  than  I  had  expected. 

I  shall  another  day  call  ou  Ben  and  report  thereon. 
Sir  John  looks  amazingly  well,  and  says  he  does  not  think 
there  is  much  truth  in  Sir  C.^s  appointment.  Perhaps  he 
is  a  little  sore  there  I 

Now  for  the  cooks  !  1  have  seen  two,  and  don't  know 
which  to  choose.  I  do  really  like  them  both  ;  I  have 
exphiined  all  things  and  shall  decide  to-morrow.  They 
both  insist  on  sitting  in  the  housekeeper's  room,  and  I 
think  it  is  right  they  should.  I  think,  to  say  the  truth, 
that  it  will  be  better  to  go  to  Woodcot  sooner  than  we  had 
first  intended,  for  as  it  would  be  useless  to  see  my  Mother 
only  once,  and  the  whole  is  to  strike  while  the  iron's  hot, 
I  may  stay  in  Town  a  week  after  her  return,  and  so  per- 
haps it  would  be  scarcely  worth  while  to  go  down  to  Wey- 
mouth again.  Let  me  know  your  real  wishes  on  the  sub- 
ject : 

Meanwhile,  don't  have  in  coals,  hay,  corn,  etc.,  more 
than  we  want  immediately,  and  tell  Thomas  that  you  may 
leave  in  about  ten  days,  because  of  the  lodgings.  I  write 
this,  as  usual,  in  haste.  Me  is  most  really  and  fondly  anx- 
ious to  see  00  again,  and  am,  most  affecty,  oo  own,  own 

PP.  AA.  BB. 

They  say  at  Colburn's  that  they  expect  the  next  Quar- 
terly will  review  me.  200  \inarhs  of  kisses],  God  bless 
00,  my  ever  dear,  dear.  Queen  Bee.     Me  will  see  oo  palace. 


Lord  Lyttons  Letters.  353 


CCLIII. 

To  Mks.  Bulwer,  Weymouth,  Dorsetshire. 

[War  Office.] 

Dec.  2>lst,  1828. 

My  Dearest,  Dearest,  Darling  Poodle, — It  is  very  late 
and  I  have  only  time  to  write  a  line.  Will  00  ask  Trow- 
bridge to  give  me  a  medical  certificate  stating  that  I  am  in 
the  enjoyment  of  good  health,  in  order  to  send  to  the  war 
office,  and  then  forward  it  to  me  as  I  know  no  Dr.  in 
Town? 

I  will  write  at  length  to-morrow.     In  the  greatest  haste, 

00  own 

Pups. 

CCLIV. 

To  Mrs.  Bulaver,  Weymouth, 

[Interview  with  Mrs.  Wheeler.] 

Jauv  1st,  1829. 
My  Dearest,  Darlingest  Poodle, — As  usual,  I  am  much 
pressed  for  time,  and  propose,  if  I  can  get  a  place  in  the 
mail,  going  to  Reading  to-night.  In  the  first  place  Emily 
is  safely  delivered  of  a  boy.  They  won't  let  me  see  it,  but 
W^  says  it  has  a  very  high  nose.  After  congratulating 
W™,  I  went  to  your  uncle,  and  with  him  repaired  to  your 
mother  who  had  fixed  to  see  me  at  at  3^  past  2.  I  think 
she  is  looking  tolerably  well.  She  was  desperately  wise 
and  affected,  but  has  asked  me  to  meet  a  Mr.  Skene  on 
Simday  Evens  ;  on  that  day  I  am  to  dine  with  your  Uncle. 

1  like  her  less  this  time  than  I  did  at  first.     This  morning 
I  decided  on  a  cook.     I  like  her  much.      Siie  lived  with  a 


354  Lord  Lyttons  Letters, 

family  I  know — where  they  give  many  dinners.  I  am  to 
write  for  her  character  to-night.  Oo  parcel  come  safe  this 
morning.  Many  thanks  for  it  oo  darling,  and  oo  pretty 
candles,  and  oo  perfume. 

I  am  glad  to  hear  so  good  an  account  of  the  child,  but 
a  little  dismayed  by  the  repeated  attacks  on  the  house. 

I  \\<d^Q  I  may  get  down  to-night,  but  I  don't  think  it  so 
likely  as  to-morrow. 

Me  is  in  a  desperate  haste,  but  me  has  told  oo  all  the 
news  me  thought  likely  to  please  you.     Ever  most  fondly, 

Oo  OWN,  OWN  B . 

CCLV. 
To  Mrs.  Bulwer,  Weymouth,  Dorset. 

[Dinner  at  Sir  C.  Doyle's. — Letter    from  his  Mother. — Settlement 
respecting  the  Baronetcy.] 

Jany.  hth,  1829. 

My  Dearest  and  Darlingest  Poodle, — I  din'd  yesterday 
with  your  Uncle  :  Henry,  Sir  Charles  Bcntineck,  his 
brother-in-law,  Mr.  Vivian,  and  a  Col.  D'Aguihir,  Author 
of  "  Sedney's  Letters  about  \J^  Byron,"  made  the  party  ; 
the  last  was  asked  to  meet  me.  "  Congenial  Spirits  "  as 
your  Uncle  Justly  observed  I  Me  had  some  very  good  wiue 
and  a  very  pleasant  evening.  From  thence  I  went  to  your 
Mother  where  I  found  Mr.  Skene  and  another  queer  look- 
ing creature,  I  believe  a  Surgeon  or  Apothecary.  Mr. 
Skene  was  very  eloquent  and  seems  a  clever  man,  but  as  you 
rightly  say,  a  great  freethinker.  I  a  little  startled  them  by 
observing  that  I  thought  the  soul  was  immortal  :  Mr. 
Skene  obligingly  implied  sometime  afterwards  that  it  was 
but  natural  he  should  know  more  on  those  subjects  than  I 
did — but  I  might  excell  liim  upon  otiiers  !  I  got  away  as 
soon  as  I  could. 

This  morning  come  oo  darling  letter.     Oo  did  very 


Lord  Lyttons   Letters,  355 

right  about  Mr.  Trowbridge.  Don't  decide  about  Wood- 
cot,  but  hold  yourself  in  rediness  to  start  sooner — as  soon 
indeed  as  the  16tli — for  I  think  it  better  to  wait  till  I  see 
my  mother  before  wo  positively  fix  anything.  I  received  a 
very  handsome  letter  from  her  to-day,  but  saying  ''she  will 
see  me  if  I  wish,"  so  I  suppose  this  week  will  certainly 
witness  that  meeting.  Therefore  don't  decide.  If  you  do 
wait  at  Weymouth  I'l  come  down,  if  not,  it  will  be  the  14th 
before  I  can  leave  Town,  and  would  therefore  be  useless. 
I  dine  with  W'"  to-day,  and  Sir  Charles  has  asked  me  and 
Henry  to  go  in  the  evening  :  W™  said  he  was  then  writ- 
ing to  you. 

Me  is  very  glad  00  poor  darling  that  the  tea  lessened  the 
pain,  and  I  am  sure  all  will  be  right  soon.  Well,  after 
reading  00  letter,  me  went  to  call  upon  Sir  Charles  as  he 
Avished  to  shew  me  his  house,  which  he  wanted  to  persuade 
me  to  take  ;  then  I  saw  Silvia  who  is  looking  handsomer 
than  I  ever  saw,  tho'  a  little  coarse  in  complexion.  Lady 
Doyle  was  very  civil  and  very  fine,  and  said  Bath  was  a 
horrid  place.  She  has  Jnst  come  from  there  and  is  going 
to  Brighton.  Thence  I  went  to  Lakes  the  lawyer,  and  told 
him  to  get  a  definite  settlement  of  the  Baron^y  as  I  would 
not  take  it  at  all  unless  I  had  it  by  a  certain  day.  From 
him  I  went  to  IToare's,  when  Mr.  Collison  gave  me  tho 
watch  and  told  me  that  Mr.  Charles  Hoare  was  delighted 
with  "Pelham.'^  Mr.  Charles  Hoare  himself  came  out  and 
spoke  to  me  for  the  first  time  in  his  life,  and  was  very 
polite. 

Do  you  know  darling  I  feel  a  great  desire  to  come 
to  Town.  One  may  get  a  most  beautiful  house  for 
£350  a  year.  I  saw  one  in  Bolton  St.  with  the  prettiest 
Boudoir  in  the  world, — blue  and  gold.  I  forgot  to  say  I 
sav/  Frank  (Juny)  at  your  Uncle's;  he  is  prodigiously 
grown  and  is  exactly  like  Di.  I  am  going  to  call  on  him 
and  Bentinck  to-morrow,  as  also  upon  Mrs.  West,  who  says 


356  Lord  Lyttons   Letters. 

in  her  letter  about  the  cook,  tliiit  she  is  coming  to  Town 
jiud  never  gives  written  cliaracters,  if  she  can  help  it.  I 
fear  this  Lioks  bad  for  the  cook  !  I  confess  I  should  not 
like  to  look  out  for  another. 

Poor  old  Dinzel  is  dead — died  about  7  months  ago.  Sir 
Thomas  Reynall  is,  I  hear,  to  have  a  Regiment.  News  for 
Miss  Brown  I  Me  is  too  glad  if  00  likes  00  collars  !  Me 
sees  such  pretty  things  me  does  long  to  buy  00  !     God  bless 

00  darling. 

Oo  owi^,  owjsr  Pups. 

I  wrote  yesterday  to  Mrs.  Van  forbidding  the  child  go- 
iug  to  Reading.     Monday. 

CCLVI. 

To  Mrs.  Bulwer,  Weymouth. 
[Domestic. — Proposed  interview  with  his  Mother.] 

Jamj.  7'A  1829. 

My  Dearest  And  Darlingest  Poodle,  Mine  Own  Own 
Love, — I  was  very  sorry  to  send  you  so  short  a  letter  yester- 
day ;  but  really  had  not  time  to  write  more.  The  night 
before  last  Henry  and  I  went  to  Sir  Charles.  We  saw  the 
Miss  OtMeys,  their  Mother,  and  a  Miss  Mitchell  ;  they 
asked  much  after  you,  and  Sir  0.  wanted  me  to  take  his 
house.     No  news  transpired. 

Yesterday  I  saw  Mrs.  West :  I  will  tell  you  the  character 

1  received  when  we  meet,  it  is  very  satisfactory,  and  I  have 
engaged  the  woman  from  next  Wednesday — this  day  week. 

Now  as  to  leaving  Weymouth, — I  think  the  best  day 
would  be  Monday  week,  18th,  and  I  will  goto  Woodcot  the 
same  day  so  as  to  receive  you  on  Tuesday,  unless  you  like 
to  make  three  days  of  it,  and  beat  Woodcot  on  Wednesday, 
this  as  you  like.  If  you  do  decide  on  leaving  Monday,  send 
John  with  the  horses  on  Saturday,  so  that  he  may  be  at 
Woodcot   on   Tuesday  ;    meanwhile   get   in   all  the    bills  : 


Lord  Lyttons    Lette7^s.  357 

Fooke's,  the  Tailor's,  the  Lodgings,  etc.  ;  send  me  a  copy 
of  each  ;  mention  the  items  of  the  Tailor's,  and  let  me 
know  if  you  have  any  money  left  so  that  I  may  see  what  to 
send  you.  Whatever  day  yon  fix  for  starting  John  must  go 
4  da3^s before.  If  you  arrive  on  Tuesday  the  cook  shall  come 
on  Tliursday.  By-the  bye,  I  could  not  tell  her  about  your 
washing  :  she  wants  the  kitchen-maid  to  do  it.  She  seems 
very  humble  and  obliging  (Pray  God  it  may  continue)  and 
will  arrange  with  you  whatever  is  reasonable. 

Thank  you  for  Mrs.  C.'s  letter  :  so  like  people,  civil 
when  you  have  become  above  their  civility  !  I  am  glad  you 
like  going  out  :  but  conGnc  yourself  to  the  hest  people  and 
always  enquire  their  characters  before  you  go  ;  I  don't  like 
Mrs.  Brushelot's  having  been  at  Paris. 

I  hope  I  may  remember  about  Dinzel.  Wm  misdirected 
your  letter  to  Brighton  and  has  written  to  the  Postmaster 
to  forward  it.  I  received  a  letter  this  morning  from  my 
Mother  who  came  to  Town  last  night.  She  has  appointed 
to  see  me  on  Thursday  at  3  o'clock.  I  rather  dread  it  !  In 
her  letter  from  Knebworth  she  informed  me  that  a  parcel 
had  been  sent  there  for  me,  which  she  would  bring  to 
Town.  This  morning  she  sent  it ;  I  opened  it,  and  out 
dropped — can  you  conceive  ? — the  Bulkely  Case  !  It  had 
been  sent  to  Knebworth  with  a  most  curious  letter  to  my 
mother,  which  certainly  looked  as  if  Miss  Bulkely  and  I 
*'  had  kept  company"  as  the  servants  say  !     Pleasant  ! 

Did  I  tell  you  that  Colburn  offered  me  twenty  guineas 
a  sheet  for  the  New  Monthly  f  Now  a  sheet  in  that  Maga- 
zine is  a  very  long  thing  !  Wiiat  would  you  advise  ?  I 
3annot  get  any  certain  news  from  Word,  and  almost  hope 
i;he  thing  won^t  take  place. 

Good-bye  Darling,  God  bless  00. 

Oo  OWN  OWN  Pups. 


35^  Lord  Lyttons  Letters. 


CCLVII. 

To  Mrs.  Bulaver,  Weymouth. 
[iMccting  bis  Mother.] 

Jany  Wi  1829. 

My  Dearest  Love, — I  am  writing  this  at  Andre's,  the 
hatter,  not  having  time  to  get  elsewhere  to  save  the  post. 
I  have  seeu  my  mother,  and  everything  has  been  much 
better  than  I  could  have  expected.  She  enquired  very 
kindly  after  you  and  our  child,  and  in  short  I  have  nothing 
to  complain  of.  I  am  to  see  her  at  7  to-morrow  evens 
again.     God  bless  oo,  my  own 

P— A.  A. 

This  moment  come  from  my  mother,  where  I  stayed 
from  3  to  10  minutes  before  6. 

CCLVIII. 

To  Mrs.  Bulwer,  Weymouth. 

[Further  particulars. — Present  for  the  child. — The  Baronetcy.] 

Jany.  Wi,  1829. 
My  Dearest  And  Darlingest  Poodle, — 

I  hope  you  received  my  short  and  huriied  letter  yester- 
day. Well  !  I  went  to  my  Mother's,  and  was  received 
very  civilly  and  coldly.  We  talked  for  the  most  part  on 
indifferent  subjects,  and  at  last  hit  on  the  critical  one,  I  was 
as  eloquent  as  I  could  be,  and  made  more  impression  than  I 
could  have  hoped.  She  then  adverted  to  ''Pelham,"  and 
spake  with  some  acrimony  of  MY  having  therein  said  "  old 
women,  were  not  human."  However,  she  said  it  was 
extremely  clever,  and  seemed  to  like  it  better  than  the 
''Disowned."  She  then  asked  after  your  eyes,  and  spoke 
about  the  child.    I  told  her  you  had  l)een  down  to  see  it,  and 


Lord  Lyttons   Letters.  359 

then  she  asked  me  to  take  the  watch  as  a  present  for  the 
child.  Of  course  I  would  not  do  that !  She  then,  just  as 
I  was  going,  spoke  about  the  quantity  of  "  Sirs  "  there  was 
among  the  Doyles,  and  said,  "  why  I  heard  the  other  day 
that  you  were  to  be  one  !  Only  think  how'  absurd."  *'  I 
believe  it  is  in  contemplation  to  make  me  one,"  said  I 
guardedly;  "I  shall  know  in  about  a  month."  I  then 
turned  the  subject,  and  asked  when  I  should  see  her  again, 
and  she  fixed  7  this  evening.  She  is  looking  well,  which 
gave  me  as  you  may  suppose  great  pleasure. 

You  mistake  darling  ;  me  is  very  glad  you  went  to  Mrs. 
Bridale's.  Let  us  fix  the  18th  for  your  leaving  Weymouth  ; 
the  objections  to  it  continue,  but  arc,  I  think,  outbalanced 
by  other  advantages.  I  shall  therefore  expect  you  at 
Woodcot  the  20th. 

Directly  I  hear  the  amount  of  the  debts,  I  will  send 
you  a  Bank  Post  Bill.  Me  is  very  glad  you  got  the  things 
for  the  child  ;  pray  see  that  she  wants  nothing.  This 
reminds  me  of  a  commission  you  can  do  for  me,  which  is  to 
buy  yourself  6  Collars  !  I  have  been  to  several  places 
here  and  I  see  nothing  new,  nor  to  my  eyes  is  there  any 
difference  between  those  priced  at  2s.  lOd.  and  those  at 
Cs.  6d.  I  shall  therefore  be  forced  to  leave  it  to  you, 
employing  you  my  own  darling,  only  to  buy  such  as  are 
really  good  and  handsome  :  I  need  not  say  you  must  do  it, 
for  I  give  you  my  honour,  that  if  your  next  letter  does  not 
contain  the  assurance  upon  your  honour  that  you  have 
bought  them,  I  will  go  to  Howell  and  Jameses  and  get  the 
dearest  I  can  buy  ! 

Will  you  give  my  best  compts  to  Mr.  Trowbridge  and 
say  that  I  am  very  sorry  to  trouble  him  twice,  but  that  the 
paper  should  have  designated  me  as  Edward  George  Lytton 
Bulwcr,  and  I  must  therefore  request  another. 

I  saw  Colburn  to-day,  but  nothing  took  place.  I  think 
it  quite  desirable  to  get  rid  of  Woodcot  and  go  a  little  into 


360  Lord  Lytto7is   Letters. 

Society.  I  am  only  in  doubt  whether  to  go  to  London  or 
to  Brij^hton,  at  wliich  latter  there  is  excellent  company, 
but  I  think  Town  on  the  whole  preferable. 

I  have  not  seen  William's  child  yet  ;  it  has  not  smiled 
once  since  its  birth,  the  Nurse  says  it  is  the  gravest  Baby 
she  ever  saw  !  You  have  no  idea  how  W™  congratulates 
himself  on  so  favorable  a  sign  ! 

My  Mother  said  Emily,  "  That  she  was  very  inoffen- 
sive, very  lady-like,"  very  commonplace,  and  without  any 
troublesome  superfluity  of  heart,  intellect,  or  feeling ! 
By-the-bye,  I  have  seen  the  translation  of  "  Pelham,"  it  is 
very  well  done,  it  is  in  one  of  the  French  Reviews  :  it  is 
taking  greatly  abroad.  No  news  here.  Write  word  how 
00  darling  eye  is,  and  how  00  chest  is,  God  ever  love,  and 
bless  you,  my  own,  own,  own  Poodle. 

Be  sure  not  to  forget  the  Collars  :  I  must  have  the 
thing  done,  or  take  the  consequences. 

CCLIX. 

To  Mrs.  Bulwer,  Weymouth,  Dorset. 

[To  leave  Weymouth. — Seen  his  Mother  again.] 

Brookes',  Jany.  lOih,  1829. 

My  Dearest,  Darl ingest.  And  Angelest  of  Poodles,  My 
Own  Pearl,  Dear  Love, — Me  is  so  very  very  unhappy  to 
hear  00  has  been  so  ill  and  never  to  tell  me  too  !  Pray, 
pray,  for  God's  sake  get  ooself  wine  and  everything  00 
Avants,  if  you  would  not  make  me  quite  wretched  !  Pray 
tell  me  in  00  next  that  00  has  got  ooself  wine  and  all  things 
else. 

Me  will  go  down  to  Hoare's  to-morrow  and  send  00  a 
Post  Bill  to  pay  00  debts,  etc.  Let  it  be  20"^  as  you  say  ; 
me  will  not  forget  the  frocks. 

I  saw  my  Mother  last  night.     She  was  very  cold,  but 


Lord  Ly lions  Letters.  361 

certainly  kind  ;  me  talked  much  on  household  matters,  but 
I  got  no  hints  worth  following. 

Sir  Walter  Waller's  house  is  to  be  disposed  of  ;  I  am  to 
have  all  particulars  in  a  day  or  two.  Me  wishes  me  had  a 
nice  house  in  Town.  That  odious  Woodcot ;  how  I  hafe 
it! 

I  am  to  see  Wm?  child  to-morrow.  My  mother  enquired 
much  after  you  ;  I  am  to  see  her  again  to-night.  Pray 
don't  write  such  long  letters  to  me  to  hurt  00  darling 
eyes — a  line  to  say  00  is  well  is  all  I  want.  God  ever  love, 
and  bless,  and  keep,  and  preserve  my  own  dearest,  dearest 
love. 

Oo  OWN  Puppy. 

My  mother  did  not  kiss  me,  and  says  I  am  looking 
shockingly,  so  thin  and  so  changed  ! 

CCLX. 
To  Mrs.  Bulwer,  Weymouth. 

[Domestic  matters.] 

My  Darlingest  And  Dearest  Poodle, — 1000  ^^narlcs  of 
'ki8ses\  for  00  nice  long  letter.  Be  sure  00  writes  me  word 
that  00  has  got  00  collars,  and  don't  buy  sliabhy  ones, 
because  that  is  always  money  thrown  away  ;  and  it  only 
renders  00  other  clothes  good  for  nothing,  when  00  has  one 
shabby  thing  on.  Me  would  not  advise  00  to  have  all  00 
clotlu's  made  up  yet  because  of  the  fashions  ;  those  two 
plain  bauds  by  way  of  flounce  at  the  bottom  are  quite  gone 
out.  I  think  Trowbridge's  bill  very  dear.  I  don't  object 
to  the  others. 

I  have  been  to  Hoare's  and  ordered  2  postbills  to  be 
sent  you  to-morrow,  one  for  £100,  the  other  for  £50 — in  all 
£l50.  Spend  as  little  of  of  it  as  00  can,  as  I  have  had 
some  dreadful  bills,  and  have  paid  Henry  £100.  Don't 
send  the  penny,  Mrs.  Poodle ;  'tis  the  housewife's  fee,  and 


o 


62  Lord  Lyttons  Letters. 


me  shall  be  sure  to  lose  it.     Sir  W.   Scott  praised  ''Pel- 
ham"  very  much  to  Sir  G.  Warrenden  the  other  day. 

I  think  I  have  decided  on  leaving  Woodcot  ;  there  is 
plenty  of  time.  Yon  may  be  sure  I  spoke  of  our  child 
what  I  think — which  is  that  she  is  noio  very  pretty,  but  I 
really  do  not  see  why  one  is  to  love  her  more  or  less  upon 
that  account.  Your  Uncle  says  Gen'  Browue  is  very 
unpopular,  is  crusty  and  obstinate,  I  don't  know  the 
phrase.  I  shall  call  on  Sir  Charles  before  I  leave  Town, 
but  do  not  exjject  to  see  him.  Sir  Pobert  Wilson  is  now 
writing  me  a  frank  for  Mr.  Parkinson,  to  whom  I  have 
Avritten  rather  a  scolding  letter.  The  Quarterly  Revieio  is 
to  be  out  on  Saturday,  so  we  shall  soon  see  Avhether  they 
mention  the  •'  Disowned,''  God  ever  love  and  bless  you,  my 
own  dear  dear  love. 

CCLXI." 

To  Mrs.  E.  L.  Bulwer,  Weymouth,  Dorsetshire. 
[Town  houses. — The  Baronetcy.] 

Jany.  ISth  1839. 
My  Doai-est  And  Darlingest  Poodle, — 

Me  din'd  yesterday  with  my  mother,  but  nothing  worth 
mentioning  occurred.     She  continues  cold. 

I  have  been  looking  after  kennels  all  day.  Between 
you  and  me  I  think  the  only  place  we  can  go  to  is  Caven- 
dish S^.  One  may  have  a  house  there  for  about  £400  a 
year  :  houses  in  Berkeley  Si.  £900  not  near  so  good,  and  in 
this  side  of  Oxford  St.  you  have  no  idea  what  poor  housea 
you  get  for  £400  a  year.  I  saw  Diana  and  Fanny  to-day, 
they  are  looking  very  well  and  enquired  much  after  you. 
Sir  F.  has  just  come  to  Town,  but  I  did  not  see  him  :  after 
I  left  them  I  went  to  see  W'"'  child  ;  it  is  certainly  very 
plain  and  had  an  extremely  ugly  mouth  and  upper  lip,  but 
blue  eyes,  and  is  a  fine  large  one.     Mr.  Word  was  with  mo 


Lord  Lyttons  Letters.  363 

to-day  and  says  the  Peers  are  to  be  next  Friday  ;  people 
very  generally  know  that  I  am  to  be  made  a  B;irt.,  even 
strangers  mention  it ;  but  it  does  not  seem  to  be  known  in 
what  manner  I  get  it,  and  I  suppose  therefore  that  it  trans- 
pires thro'  the  offices. 

You  do  right  to  send  off  tlie  horses  on  Saturday,  to  be 
at  Wood  cot  on  Tuesday.  I  will  send  the  books  on  Friday 
or  Saturday  ;  there  are  two  now  at  Weymouth  belonging 
to  Thomas  which  I  wish  to  buy  if  possible — one  for  about 
3.^!.,  and  one  for  about  Is.  6d.,  but  not  more,  for  they  are 
not  worth  more.  These  two  are  the  translation  of  "  Plato," 
2  Vol.,  3s.,  and  '' Sedley's  Works"  for  Is.  6d.  You  can 
therefore  ask  Thomas  if  he  will  sell  them,  and  if  so  what 
for.  Be  sure  to  look  CAREFULLY  that  noneoi  the  books 
belong  to  Saunders  and  Ottley  are  sent  by  mistake  to 
Thomas.  Send  back  those  news-papers  (The  Globe)  to 
Russel's. 

Remember  me  kindly  to  the  Brownes,  and  say  all  that 
is  pretty  to  them  for  both  of  us. 

God  love,  bless,  and  keep  00,  my  own  dearest  love. 

Pups. 
CCLXIL 

To  Mrs.  Bulwer,  Weymouth,  Dorset. 

[Town  houses.] 

Jany.  Ufh  1829. 
My  Dearest,  Darlingcst,  And  Poorest  of  Poodles, — I  am 
most  truly  astonished  at  your  not  having  heard  from  me  ! 
I  wrote  to  you  and  put  the  letter  into  the  letter  box  at 
Brookes'  as  usual,  and  I  earnestly  hope  that  you  have 
received  it  by  this  time,  as  it  would  be  too  bad  to  have  our 
letters  miscarry.  I  am  positive  as  to  the  fact  of  having  writ- 
ten the  letter  and  put  it  into  the  box.  Henry  says  there  are 
one  or  two  instances  in  his  knowledge  of  this  having  hap- 
pened at  Brookes',  and  I  will  therefore   never  send  my 


364  Lord  Lytto7is  Letters. 

letters  from  there  again.  I  have  been  looking  after  houses 
again,  and  I  have  seen  a  most  charming  one  in  Cavendish 
Square,  which  I  think  will  suit  us  exactly  :  a  beautiful 
stair-case,  statues  in  the  hall,  capital  drawing  rooms,  and 
beantiful  furniture.  I  dare  sa}-  it  might  be  had  for  £400  a 
year. 

I  have  written  by  this  post  to  Sarah  to  have  everything 
ready  at  Woodcot  for  us.  I  shall  go  there  on  Monday 
night  :  I  have  also  written  to  Rhodes  not  to  forward  any 
more  letters  after  Saturday. 

I  saw  my  Mother  again  last  night.  She  was  kinder 
than  usual,  I  spoke  to  her  about  coming  to  us,  but  it  won't 
do  yet.  You  have  no  idea  how  coolly  she  takes  my  talking 
about  houses  in  Cavendish  Sq.,  etc. :  does  not  seem  the  least 
surprised  !  She  said  last  night  that  she  had  heard  the  Miss 
Doyles  were  so  well  brouglit  up,  so  respectable,  would  make 
each  good  wives.  In  England  to  be  cold  is  to  be  respect- 
able, and  nothing  makes  or  is  supposed  to  make  such  good 
wives  as  that  stuif  which  has  the  least  heart  in  it.  My 
Mother,  after  asking  me  about  Mrs.  "Wheeler,  said  that  1 
ought  to  expect  from  you  the  greatest  return  of  affection. 
I  said  it  was  impossible  for  any  one  to  love  me  better — (Is 
that  true  Rose  ?)  and  my  Mother  seemed  affected,  and 
enquired  a  good  deal  about  you. 

I  dine  with  W"  to-day  and  go  to  a  party  at  Fizgerald's 
in  the  evening.  Pray  say  if  you  have  received  the  money, 
£150.  Me  hopes  00  has  got  both  my  letters  by  this  time 
and  that  00  mind  is  easy  about  me.  God  ever  love,  00  my 
own  darling  Poodle. 


Lord  Lyttons  Letters.  365 


CCLXIII. 

To  Mrs.  Bulwer,  Weymouth,  Dorset. 

[His  Mother's  kind  enquiries.] 

Jamj.  \hth,  1829. 

My  Own  Dearest  Love, — I  am  so  very  very  sorry  that 
you  were  such  a  darling  as  to  fret  ooself  about  me  ;  another 
time  00  may  be  sure  tliat  all  is  safe  when  I  am  silent.  I 
shonlcl  be  too  miserable  if  it  were  at  all  my  fault  your  mis- 
sing my  letter  !  This  day,  my  own  darling,  came  00  beauti- 
ful, most  beautiful,  present  ;  it  is  really  too  pretty  for  me, 
and  I  only  feel  unha})py  that  it  does  not  belong  to  00,  that 
it  is  most  useful  to  me,  and  a  thing  that  me  has  once  or 
twice  thought  of  buying,  but  never  could  see  anything  half 
in  such  good  taste  !  and  00  dear  little  pencil-case  is 
worth  all. 

As  to  Mrs.  Van,  let  me  know  what  you  think  best  to 
give  her  ;  I  have  thought  myself  that  the  best  would  be  a 
work-box  ;  I  can  get  one  like  yours,  only  a  little  smaller, 
and  blue  instead  of  yellow,  for  about  £2  10s.  Next  to  that 
I  think  a  gold  thimble  with  a  few  stones  in  it,  or  a  little 
case  containing  silver  scissors,  thimble,  bodkin,  etc.  All 
come  to  about  the  same  price.  Let  me  know  which  you 
l)refer,  and  which  you  think  will  tell  the  most.  I  think 
something  useful  would  be  better  than  jewellery,  unless  the 
jewellery  was  costly.  Oilier  has  been  with  me  all  the  morn- 
ing, and  wants  to  buy  my  next  book  now — I  have  not  come 
to  any  terms.  I  have  also  on  2nd  thoughts  refused  to  write 
for  the  New  Montlily,  tho'  he  has  offered  me,  40  guineas  a 
sheet :  reasons  when  we  meet.  Oo  silver  penny  me  will 
keep  as  the  apple  of  my  eye  ;  00  has  no  idea  how  bootiful 
00  case  of  tablets  is,  nor  what  pleasure  it  gave  me  to  receive 
them  !     I  was  with  my  Mother  last  night  :     She  was  very 


366  Lord  Lyttons  Letters. 

kind,  and  I  implored  her  to  come  and  sec  us  :  she  will  not 
now,  but  I  think  when  she  lias  seen  you  in  Town,  she  will. 
She  said  that  she  heard  both  your  eyes  had  been  attacked, 
and  that  if  it  had  been  so,  she  would  have  offered  you  and 
me  to  live  with  her,  as  she  could  not  bear  your  being  depend- 
ent on  servants.  As  if  00  ever  could  while  Pups  lived  ! 
God  ever  love,  bless,  preserve,  and  make  00  thoroughly 
happy,  my  own  noble-hearted,  bootiful  Queen  Bee,  and 
my  still  dearer,  nicer,  and  prettier  Poodle, 

P.  P.  A.  A. 

I  do  so  long  to  see  00  ! — Yesterday  week  we  shall 
meet  !  If  you  see  anything  to  suit  Mrs.  Van  for  about  £3 
or  so  you  had  better  buy  it.  I  think  a  workbox  a  good 
idea,  but  you  know  best.  I  saw  Mrs.  Skinner  at  Fitz- 
gerald's last  night,  she  said  she  should  be  very  happy  to 
visit  us,  and  that  Miss  Landon  was  coming  to  her  next 
Thursday. 

CCLXIV. 

To  Mrs.  E.  L.  Bulwer,  Weymouth,  Dorsetshire. 

[Jealousy  of  Child.] 

January  lUh,  1829. 
My  Own  Dearest,  Dear  Love,  My  Own  Queenest  Of 
Bees, —  Oo  is  too  great  a  darling  to  send  the  asparagus, 
which  me  found  last  night  on  coming  from  my  mother's. 
I  sent  it  to  her  this  morning  with  00  note,  I  really  do 
firmly  trust  that  she  will  very  soon  know,  value  esteem, 
admire,  and  respect  00,  as  me  does.  As  to  doating  on  00 
and  idolizing  00,  that  nobody  can  do  but  me  !  Nobody, 
dearest,  not  even  00  child  !  And  now  I  am  on  that  sub- 
ject, let  me  say  one  word,  and  make  one  favour,  which  is, 
that  whenever  00  is  vexed  with  n^e,  00  will  not  go  out 
from  me  to  our  child  !  Do  not  say,  "  this  is  kinder  to 
me,  or  this  loves  me  *better  than  he  does,"  do  not  let  a 


Lord  Lyttons   Letters.  2i^i 

being,  however  dear  it  necessarily  will,  and  ought  to  be,  to 
you,  but  which  is  only  Just  come  into  the  world  in  which 
I  for  three  years  have  known  and  loved  yon,  do  not  let  it 
be  as  dear  to  you  as  one  who  has  given  and  will  give  you 
proofs  of  afiection,  which  that  cannot  for  many  years 
equal  and  Avhich  it  can  never  excel.  That  a  creature 
hitherto  without  sense,  knowledge,  feeling  attachment, 
should  at  once  become  dearer  to  you  than  I  am,  I  do  not 
and  will  not  believe  !  If  it  were  the  case  one  of  us  would 
indeed  be  utterly  unworthy  of  the  other  !  but  a  very  little 
indulgence  of  that  susceptibility  which  you  have,  might 
easily  lead  you  in  moments  of  soreness  towards  me,  to 
encourage  a  forgetfulness  of  my  real  character  and  my 
real  love  to  you,  and  to  attach  yourself  more  to  your  child, 
in  proportion  as  you  attach  yourself  less  to  me.  In 
imploring  you,  for  the  sake  of  all  the  hapjiiness  I  have  in 
the  world,  to  guard  against  this,  I  have  some  hope  that 
you  will  do  it,  and  if  you  do,  you  will  have  put  the  last 
completion  to  a  great  debt  which  I  owe  you,  that  great 
debt  of  all  fond  and  admiring  feelings  which  I  did  not 
think  it  possible  for  any  human  being  to  inspire,  but 
which  I  say  from  my  heart,  and  with  tears  in  my  eyes, 
make  up  all  the  exceeding  and  overflowing  tenderness 
which  I  have /or  you. 

I  do  so  long  to  see  you  and  were  it  not  for  many  reasons 
jn-eferable  that  I  should  meet  you  at  Woodcot,  I  would 
come  down  to  take  you  away.  However,  you  will  be  sure 
to  bo  at  Woodcot  on  Wednesday.  I  shall  send  the  books 
to-morrow  by  the  M;ignet. 

Pray  make  Harris  come  to  some  adjustment  with  the 
man.  Rather  unlucky  nbout  the  Nurse,  and  rather  sur- 
prising, for  I  hear  a  nurse's  general  wages  are  8  guineas. 

Henry  has  just  informed  me  that  he  is  going  to  Paris 
to-night  at  12  O'clk.  He  has  made  me  pay  £100,  and  I  am 
half  ruined  by  it. 


368  Lord  Lyttons   Letters. 

Tliey  say  the  Peers  are  to  be  out  to-night  :  I  won't  seal 
the  letter  till  the  London  Gazette  comes  in,  but  God  love, 
bless,  and  keep  00,  my  own  darling,  and  for  ever. 

Pups. 

Yon  may  borrow  Sir  C.  Sedley's  AVoiks,  not  the 
"Plato,"  and  I  thall  also  keep  back  Nottlcy's  "  Histy  of 
Russia/'  in  three  Volumes,  and  return  them  as  directed. 
Thank  Thomas  for  me.  I  go  to  my  Mother's  to-night ; 
she  was  very  kind  last  night,  and  showed  me  her  diamonds. 
She  offered  me  the  watch  again,  and  I  said  I  would  take  it 
if  she  would  send  it  to  you. 

She  said  she  would  to  the  child,  and  that  of  course  you 
would  wear  it,  but  that  I  did  not  think  likely.  Henry  has 
bought  you  a  Berlin  Bracelet — I  hope  I  may  see  him  again 
to-night  for  it. 

CCLXV. 

To  Mrs.  E.  L.  Bulwer,  Weymouth,  Dorsetshire. 
[Her  three  days'  journey  back  to  Woodcot  alone.] 

Janij.  11th,  1829. 

My  Own  Dearest,  Dearest,  Angel  Love,  My  Own,  Own 
Queen  Bee, — Me  does  feel  so  uneasy  about  you,  and  fo,  so 
anxious  at  your  long  cold  journey  !  Oo  docs  quite  right  to 
set  out  early  in  the  morning,  but  for  God's  sake  don't  travel 
more  than  you  feel  able  to  do.  Me  sail  be  so  glad  to  see 
00,  and  sail  be  in  readiness  to  meet  00  at  3  o'clk.  on  "Wed- 
nesday, but,  that  you  may  not  hurry  on  the  road,  I  will  not 
be  uneasy  if  you  do  not  come  till  Thursday,  bat  conclude 
tliat  the  journey  has  taken  three  days. 

Yesterday  night  I  went  to  my  Mother's  and  she  was 
very  much  pleased  about  the  asparagus,  but  forbid  by  the 
Doctors  to  eat  it.  and  I  therefore  sent  it  to  Sir  John  from 
my  Mother's  house,  telling  him  to  give  one  to  00  Mother. 

My  Mother  was  very  kind,  and  called  00  "  poor  thing," 


Lord  Lyttons    Letters.  369 

wliich  is  a  great  compliment  on  her  part !  After  my 
Mother's  I  went  to  Henry,  wlio  has  given  me  all  sorts  ol 
kind  messages  to  you,  together  with  one  vpry  pretty  Berlin 
bracelet  of  exceedingly  good  Avorkmanship,  and  a  good 
many  other  little  Berlin  things — all  for  Poodle — none  for 
Pups — except  two  china  spoons,  old  Dresden  !  Me  has  has 
l)(>nght  Mrs.  Van  a  plain  gold  thimble  ;  me  will  tell  00 
about  de  £42  when  we  meet.  I  fear  I  cannot  go  to  the 
Vans,  but,  will  if  possible.  I  am  to  get  frocks  before  I 
leave,  but  could  not  send  them  tbe  books. 

Henry  set  off  at  12  last  night  for  three  weeks  ;  before 
he  went  he  received  a  most  uncivil  letter  from  Ainsworth. 
Me  has  bought  a  great  pot  of  French  mustard;  and  now 
mind  that  00  buys  all  00  collars,  00  gloves,  and  satin  shoes, 
if  the  latter  fit  you.  It  will  save'  me  an  immense  deal  of 
money,  for  if  I  find  that  00  does  not  have  them  when  me  sees 
00,  me  gives  00  my  honor,  me  will  immediately  write  to 
Town  for  them  !  Me  is  so  sorry  me  forgot  to  send  the 
shawl  with  the  books,  me  has  had  it  cleaned,  and  it  would 
have  kept  00  warm  !  my  own  jioor  darling,  me  is  so  sorry 
me  forgot  it,  my  dearest,  dearest  love,  I  cannot  tell  you  how 
much  I  reproach  myself  for  letting  00  write  me  such  long 
letters.  I  am  sure  it  has  hurt  00  eyes  !  Me  sail  be  so 
angry  with  myself  if  00  is  not  looking  well.  Be  sure  you 
tell  Harris  to  look  well  over  the  carriage,  and  see  that  the 
wheeles  and  springs  are  safe,  and  let  him  have  all  de  trouble 
of  paying  for  00,  and  do,  do,  do  take  all  imaginable  care  of 
00  darling,  darling  self  till  me  sees  and  kisses  00  again  ! 

Pups. 

Me  cannot  write  to  00  agrin.  Oo  ought  to  set  off  by  8 
o'clk.  at  latest  on  Tuesday.     200  [^tnarks  of  kisses]. 

In  the  Literary  Gazette  of  to-day  they  quote  me,  and 
say  "  The  admirable  author  of  the  '  Disowned."  Pray  say 
all  that's  grateful  from  me  to  de  Brownes  if  thev  have  been 
kind  to  00. 


370  Lord  Lyttons  Letters. 


COLXVI. 
To  Mrs.  E.  L.  Bulwer,  Woodcot  House,  Nettlebed,  Oxon. 

[First  letter  from  D'lsraeli.] 

Febxj.  21s f,  1829. 

My  De.irest  And  Darlmgest  Poodle, — I  arrived  in  Town 
safe  but  exceed  ingly  tired  about  H  past  8  o'clock.  I  stopped 
at  the  Atlionteum,  and  sent  on  the  porter  with  my  horse  to 
the  Craven  Hotel,  where  I  procured  a  bed.  At  the  Athe- 
naeum I  found  a  parcel,  opened  it,  and  discovered  a  volume 
of  my  juvenile  poems  with  a  most  curious  note  by  D'lsraeli, 
Author  of  "  Vivian  Grey,"  saying  tliat  he  had  picked  the 
book  up  at  a  sale  of  the  late  Dr.  Parr's,  and  thought  I 
might  like  to  have  it.  I  sent  a  very  civil  note  in  answer, 
and  will  keeyt  his  letter  as  a  curiosity. 

The  next  dav  I  spent  in  seeing  about  servants,  and  have 
heard  of  3  or  4  highly  recommended  whom  I  am  to  see  on 
Wednesday,  on  my  return  from  Knebworth,  where  I  shall 
go  to-morrow  morning.  Hastings  and  Silvia  encountered 
me,  they  asked  after  you  very  kindly.  I  was  then  upon 
my  road  to  William's,  who  was  looking  very  unwell.  He 
says  the  whole  house  have  been  suffering,  and  mentioned 
that  Mrs.  Sarah  was  quietly  drinking  tea  the  other  evening 
with  Mrs.  Rickman.  Nice  gossips  they  must  have  had  !  ! 
This  morning  I  went  to  Storr  and  praised  up  his  thimble. 
He  had  a  beautiful  second-hand  gilt  toilet,  which  I  think 
of  buying  for  £50.  This  morning  came  your  two  darling 
letters.  I  am  most  uneasy  at  hearing  of  oo  cold,  oo  poor 
darling  !  pray  wrap  up  and  don't  go  out  on  any  account. 
I  am  afraid  it  is  owing  to  oo  running  after  me  in  oo  carpet 
shoes.  Pray  say  exactly  how  oo  is  in  oo  next,  which  oo  will 
direct  to  the  Athenaeum,  as  I  shall  certainly  be  in  Town 
on    Tuesday    evening.       Be    sure   and   take   all    care   of 


•Lord  Lyttons  Letters.  371 

ooself.  I  fear  it  will  be  more  difl&cult  than  I  thought  to 
get  rid  of  the  B^  I  saw  Word  to-day.  However  I  shall 
do  it. 

I  have  seen  two  very  nice  houses  in  Albemarle  St.,  one 
belongs  to  your  friend  Mr.  Bennet  of  Wiltshire.  Both  to 
be  sold  or  let  very  cheap.  There  is  a  reviev/  of  the  *'  Dis- 
owned" and  "  Pelham  "  in  the  8un  newspajDer — very 
panegyrical — and  a  paragraph  in  the  Literary  Gazette,  and 
in  that  part  devoted  to  French  correspondence,  says  "  Mr. 
Bulwer's  new  work  tlic  'Disowned'  i^;  announced  here. 
The  announcement  does  not  laud  it  as  a  novel  so  highly  as 
"Pelham,"  but  says,  ^  'pour  V homme  qui  cherche  des  idees 
profundes  et  des  observations  justes '  it  would  have  the 
deepest  interest."  Very  French  !  Good-bye  my  own,  own 
darling.     God  ever  love,  bless,  and  keep  00. 

Oo  owjsr  Pup. 

I  saw  Emily  this  morning  ;  she  is  looking  very  well,  and. 
enquired  very  tenderly  after  you.  I  am  to  see  the  child 
this  evening,  for  I  dine  there  on  beefsteaks. 

CCLXVII. 

To  Mrs.  Bulwer,  Woodcot  House. 

[His  Mother's  Kindness.] 

Fehy.  2Uh,  1829. 

My  Dearest  Poodle,  My  Ownest,  And  Darlingest 
Love, — I  am  this  moment  returned  from  Knebworth.  My 
Mother  was  ezceedinglij  kind,  much  as  I  ever  remember 
her — was  also  (which  I  valued  much  more)  very  kind  about 
00,  and  what  you  will  value  not  less  perhaps  about  our 
child. 

You  have  no  conception  how  ducedly  cold  it  is  ;  I  can 
scarcely  hold  the  pen,  my  hand  is  so  numbed. 

Pray  my  own  dearest  Love,  never  mind  about  the  hay, 
there  is  plenty  of  time  for  that. 


2)"] 2  Lord  Lyttons  Letters. 

Nothing  can  be  better  than  the  Clan. 

Pray  say  how  Mrs.  Shaw  goes  on  and  if  you  have  any- 
thing to  complain  of  in  her.  I  know  of  a  good  Cook. 
Miss  Spence  was  at  a  party  at  my  Mother's  the  other  night. 
Me  can  write  to-morrow,  but  w'^  write  this  line  to  tell  oo 
how  me  loves  oo. 

Pups. 

CCLXVIII. 

To    Mks.  E.   L.    Bulwer,    Woodcot  House,    Nettlebed, 

Oxon. 

[His  visit  to  Knebworth.] 

Fehv.  2Uh,  1829. 

My  Dearest  Poodle, — After  a  very  severe  ride  thro'  the 
wet  I  arrived  at  Knebwcrth.  *'Pet"  seemed  to  know 
where  she  was  going  and  carried  me  with  great  spirit  ! 
My  Mother  was  looking  very  well,  and  received  me  very 
cordially;  I  dined  off  rabbit  and  beefsteaks,  that  having 
been  the  dinner  she  pix'ordered,  and  spent  the  evening  in 
conversation  with  ray  Mother.  She  was  extremely  kind  as 
I  s;iid  before,  and  I  really  think  it  will  be  my  own  fault  if 
she  is  not  soon  qnite  reconciled  to  me.  You,  my  own 
dearest  love,  whom  to  see  is  to  idolize,  must  do  all  I  have 
left  undone  !  Knebworth  is  really  a  superb  place,  I  bad 
no  idea  it  was  what  it  is  !  One  must  see  other  places  to 
judge.  I  spent  the  next  day  in  walking  over  the  old  scenes 
which  gave  me  many  pleasant  and  some  melancholy  feel- 
ings. Nor  did  I  forget  the  farm-yard,  where  I  made 
enquiries  that  satisfy  me  about  Mead,  and  make  me  more 
pleased  with  him  than  I  have  been. 

My  Mother  has  a  new  maid  who  was  making  her  a  new 
pelisse  of  the  same  colour  as  oo  own,  only  without  the  vel- 
vet. 

I  spent  the  night  looking  over  old  letters  and  destroy- 


Lord  Lytto}is  Letters.  2,1 2> 

ing  a  great  heap,  among  others  poor  Lady  C.'s.  My 
Mother  went  in  the  carriage  witli  me,  as  far  as  Welwyn,  or 
rather  Brocket,  and  from  thence  I  rode  to  Town  which  I 
reached  on  purpose  for  the  post,  and  the'  so  cold  I  conld 
scarcely  hold  the  i)en,  I  wrote  yon  a  few  lines. 

I  found  your  dear  letter,  which  I  had  anxiously 
ex[)ected.  A  singular  letter  of  Mi-s.  McKenzie.  I  fear  I 
must  put  it  into  a  Novel,  it  is  so  well  adapted  to  it. 

This  moment  I  saw  two  men  servants,  one  a  Welshman, 
and  the  other  most  highly  recommended  but  so  dreadfully 
grave  that  he  quite  looked  me  into  stone.  I  hope  1  may 
do  better  than  either  if  I  wait  long  enough.  Storr  showed 
me  all  the  toilet,  which  is  really  magnificent — there  is  a 
basin  and  ewer,  but  of  gilt  metal,  not  silver  gilt  like  the 
rest.  The  price  asked  is  70  guineas — viz.,  when  my  arms 
are  engraved,  etc.  It  belonged  to  Captain  O'Neil  and  was 
celebrated  for  its  splendour  ;  it  cost  him  £300.  I  should 
like  very  much  to  have  it,  but  it  is  too  dear;  I  olfered 
them  £60,  which  they  would  not  take. 

I  am  truly  unhappy  to  hear  so  bad  nn  account  of  your 
eyes.  Pray  my  own  dear,  dear  Love,  don't  walk  too  much  ; 
never  mind  about  the  hay,  for  I  can  sell  it  when  I  leave  as 
well  as  now,  and  there  is  no  hurry. 

My  Mother  said  she  would  give  me  some  more  money 
in  May,  and  I  am  quite  sure  she  will  help  me  in  furnish- 
ing a  house,  tho'  now  I  am  in  London  I  feel  as  if  I  should 
like  Twickenham  better  !     "The  human  mind,"  etc. 

I  have  a  favor  to  ask  of  you,  darling,  which  is  not  to 
speak  unkindly  of  William,  for  I  am  too  apt  to  chime  in 
with  you  at  the  moment,  and  i-eproach  myself  very  much 
for  it  aitei'wards,  and  you  may  be  sure  my  own  Queen  Bee 
th.it  any  slight  to  you  I  should  be  too  ready  to  resent.  I 
know  I  need  not  speak  more  on  the  subject.  And  now, 
God  love,  keep,  and  bless  oo. 

Don't  write  long  letters  to  me — a  line  at  a  time  will  do, 


374  Loj^d  Lyttons  Letters. 

and  it  makes  me  quite  miserable  wheu  I  think  of  your  e3^es  ! 
You  may  be  sure  that  our  interests  are  well  cared  for  at 
Knebworth,  for  I  have  left  them  in  the  care  of  a  new 
treasure  my  Mother  has  obtained — viz.  an  enormous  brown 
Poodle  !     Once  more,  God  bless  oo,  oo  own,  own 

Pups. 
Kiss  our  child  for  me.     How  does  the  Nurse  go  on  ? — 
also  the  Housemaid  ? 

COLXIX. 
To  Mks.  Bulwer,  Woodcot  House,  Nettlebed,  Oxon. 
[Sale  of  Lizzard  Cornnell  Propert}'.] 

Feby  -mil,  1829. 

My  Own  Dearest,  Darling  Love  And  Dearest  Poodle, — 
Your  two  letters  were  safely  received  this  morning,  and 
comforted  me  for  the  miserable  state  of  the  weather  and 
my  mortification  in  not  yet  finding  a  footman.  I  have  seen 
about  12  or  14,  and  none  that  will  do.  Some  such  fine  Gen- 
tlemen— others  such  disre[)u table  roughs,  and  I  am  resolved 
not  to  decide  too  hastily.  I  fear  I  shall  be  kept  here  till 
Mimday  or  Tuesday  at  least.  However  I  need  not  say  I 
will  get  away  as  soon  as  I  can,  for  I  am  tired  jusque  a  la 
mo7'i  of  this  place.  I  am  most  happy  to  hear  so  good  an 
account  of  the  servants.     What  a  pity  that  Harris  goes  ! 

This  morning  after  my  audience  of  servants  was  over,  I 
took  a  coach,  and  went  to  Hoare's  ;  thence  I  gave  orders  for 
repaying  W'",  thence  I  proceeded  to  Page  and  left  a  draft 
for  him,  thence  to  Loaden  who  has  promised  to  do  all  he 
can  about  Lizzard  Oonnell.  The  v/eather  then  being  so 
dreadfully  wet  that  I  could  do  nothing  else,  I  have  come 
here  to  dine,  and  shall  spend  the  evening  in  setting  more 
tradesmen  to  work. 

Did  I  tell  you  my  Mother  has  met  Sir  John  Milly  Doyle 
at  Lady  Dudley's  and  that  slie  did  not  much  like  him  ?     I 


Lord  Ly lions  Letters.  375 

fancy  she  played  at  cards  with  him.  Yes !  Miss  Spence 
did  go  to  a  party  at  my  Mother's  but  hud  no  conversation 
with  her — more  on  that  when  we  meet — tho'  I  have  no 
news. 

You  have  no  conception  how  griovously  I  am  bored 
about  these  servants,  but  out  of  so  many  as  daily  call,  I 
must  And  one  I  like  soon  or  the  devil  is  indeed  in  it  ! 

I  bave  sent  Colburn  nearly  all  the  first  volume  of  the 
"  Disowned  "  for  the  Press,  but  have  not  written  a  line  in 
**Dcvereux/'  Think  of  a  motto  fur  mo.  My  Mother 
drove  Emily  out  in  the  carriage  one  day,  and  seems  to  like 
her  pretty  well,  buL  persists  in  saying  she  is  not  handsome  ; 
she  thinks  their  cbild  positively  ugly.  It  is  not  that,  but 
it  is  very  grave  and  has  at  least  the  i)rettiest  little  hands  in 
the  world  !  No  news  here  at  present.  I  am  much  the 
same  as  usual.  Pray,  pray,  pray,  my  own  dearest,  dearest 
love,  spare  your  eyes  !  I  went  to-day,  after  leaving  Loaden, 
to  Alexander  about  them,  but  he  was  out.  I  am  to  see 
him  I  hope  to-morrow.  But  at  all  events  don't  write  me  long 
letters,  for  God's  sake  don't,  and  pray  my  own  love  have 
"Terror "and  "Lady"  in  the  bedroom  every  night  as  a 
guard  to  you.  Would  not  you  like  to  have  a  bed  made  up 
near  you  for  Mary  ?  I  do  long  to  be  back  with  you,  my 
own  darling.     Ever  oo  own,  own,  own 

Pups. 
Kiss  the  cliild  for  me  and  find  a  name  to  call  her  by. 

CCLXX. 

To  Mrs.  Buxvter,  Woodcot,  Nettlebed,  Oxon. 

[CLild's  illness  and  nursing.] 

28th  Feby.,  1839. 
My  Own  Poor  Dear  Dear  Dear  Love, — I  am   so  very 
unhappy  to  hear  so  bad  an  account  of  you,  and  so  wretched 
that  you  should  have  set  up  with  the  poor  little  child,  when 


376  Lord  Lyttnns   Letters. 

sitting  np  always  fatigues  you  so.  Mine  ownest,  for  Grod's 
sake  let  the  Dr.  sit  up,  whether  it  is  necessary  or  not,  inas- 
much IS  it  will  relieve  your  mind  and  yourself.  I  will 
make  all  possible  haste  back  to  you,  and  expect  it  fully  on 
Tuesday,  but  you  will  hear  from  me  on  that  day.  I  had 
taken  Henry's  servant,  but  I  heard  to-day  that  he  was 
always  drui.k,  and  I  shall  therefore  take  another,  whom  I 
don't  fancy  much,  but  who  seems  respectable.  I  saw 
Thornbury  to-day,  who  preached  all  the  time — literally 
preached  in  a  pulpit  voice. 

My  mother  has  just  come  to  Town,  and  I  shall  go  to 
her  this  evening.  For  God's  sake,  my  own  angel  love, 
take  care  of  yourself,  and  let  nothing  vex  you,  and  pray 
sleep  and  take  plenty  of  wine,  and  pray,  pray  let  me  see 
you  quite,  quite  well  when  I  come.  I  do  assure  you,  my 
dearest  wife,  that  the  greatest  pleasure  I  feel  in  being 
reconciled  to  my  Mother  is  looking  forward  to  the  hour 
when  she  Avill  admiie  and  love  00,  as  me  does.  I  hope 
earnestly  tliat  our  child  is  much  better,  and  am,  tho'  very 
vn'etched  and  uneasy  about  00,  more  than  ever  00  dear. 

Pups. 

I  saw  your  Uncle's  carriage,  and  asked  Waugh  about 
him,  who  said  he  was  better.  1  shall  call  to-morrow.  For 
my  sake  don't  fret,  and  take  care  of  yourself.  200,000 
[mar^5  of  kisses^. 

CCLXXI. 

To   Mrs.    E.   L.    Bulwer,    Woodcot   House,    Nettlebed, 

Oxfordshire. 

[Elis  diiugliter's  illness. — Miss  Landon's  poem  on  Mrs.  Norton.] 

March  2nd,  1829. 
My  Own  Dearest  And  Darlingcst  Poodle, — 

Oo  is  very  naughty  to  think  me  was  angry  with  00, 
which  me  assures  00  me  was  not — nor  even  dreamt  of  being 


Lord  Lyttons   Letters,  2)11 

so,  me  does  also  say  that,  the'  me  is  now  and  then  angry 
without  cause  when  me  is  with  you,  yet  me  is  never  angry 
without  cause  when  me  is  away.  And  it  is  not  quite  fair 
or  just  in  oo  to  think  I  was  angry  at  your  tending  your 
child  when  it  required  it.  I  was  only  anxious  for  your 
sak'(>  that  you  should  not  make  yourself  ill. 

Yesterday  I  dined  with  William,  pievious  to  which  I 
clled  on  your  Uncle,  who  looked  very  well.  lie  asked 
most  kindly  after  you,  and  promised  to  come  and  see  us  in 
IMay.  I  told  him  I  was  going  to  call  on  your  Mother  ; 
but  he  informed  me  it  was  needless,  as  he  had  written  her 
the  night  before,  to  know  if  she  would  see  me,  and  she 
said  she  was  too  unwell  at  present.  However  us  I  met 
your  favourite  Mr.  Skeen  afterwards,  and  he  told  me  he 
had  been  with  her  all  the  morning  and  that  she  was  very 
well,  00  has  notliiug  to  be  uneasy  about.  My  own  dear 
dear  dear  love,  don't  think  I  could  object  to  having  your 
Mother  at  Woodcot.  It  was  only  for  your  sake  and  from 
what  Miss  Greene  said  that  I  objected  to  it  in  any  way, 
and  I  fully  ajipreciate  your  own  generous  nature  in  wish- 
ing her  to  come. 

William  and  Emily  are  as  usual.  She  said  she  had 
heard  fiom  you.  Oo  cannot  see  my  toilet,  darling,  for  it 
will  take  C  v.eeks  \o furbish  up,  etc.  This  morning  I  rose 
early  and  enquired  the  character  of  a  servant,  which 
answers  very  well  ;  so  that,  unless  the  day  is  very  cold  or 
wet,  you  may  expect  me  to-morrow  at  6  o'c.  I  shall  leave 
my  horse  half-way,  and  come  on  in  post-chaise.  If  I  don't 
come  to-morrow,  I  shall  certainly  the  next  day  ;  but  I 
think  to-morrow  most  likely. 

At  3  o'clock  I  went  to  Alexander,  with  whom  I  had  a 
long  talk.  He  says  it  is  certainly  an  affection  of  the  optic 
nerve,  that  you  will  recover  it,  but  that  the  only  thing  to 
relieve  and  cure  you  is  leeches,  once  a  week  over  the  eye- 
brow ;  he  will  answer  for  its  removing  all  the  pain,  if  it 


2,7^  Lord  Lyttons  Letters. 

cloos  not  the  blindness.     But  more  of  this  when  we  meet. 
He  says  you  are  certnin  of  recovering  sooner  or  latter. 

By  the  way  Miss  Landon  wrote  a  long  poem  to  Mrs. 
Norton  in  the  "■  Lity  Gazette."  And  now,  God  bless  and 
keep  you,  my  own  donr  love,  and  do  me  the  jnstiee  to 
believe  that  I  never  wrong  your  fond,  noble,  affectionate 
and  angel  disposition,  except  when  me  is  in  a  passion  and 
does  not  know  what  me  says  or  does. 

Oo  OWN  OWN  Pups. 

Me  dines  with  my  Mother,  who  continues  very  kind,  and 
was  much  vexed  at  the  illness  of  the  child  and  your  anxiety. 
I  am  so  reallij  glad  the  child  lias  recovered  ;  kiss  her  for 
me.     Oo  has  done  wonders  with  the  money. 

Mr  and  Mrs.  Bulwrr  left  Woodcot  in  April,  1829  for 
Turiibridgc  Wells.  The  first  of  his  letters  from  London  is 
dated  14th  May,  and  they  continue  to  the  30th  of  that 
month,  when  Mrs.  Bulwei-  returned  to  Woodcot,  and  sub- 
sequently removed  to  London. 

A  son  (Edward  Robeit)  was  born  on  the  8th  of  November, 
1831. 

They  left  England  in  the  autumn  of  1833,  and  arrived 
at  Naples  on  the  17th  of  Noveml)er  that  same  year.  The 
Diary  fixes  14th  January,  1834,  "  dinner  at  Lord  Hertford's, 
taken  by  Lady  Cullum,"  which  r.grees  with  dates  given  in 
the  Deposition  of  Rosetta  Benson,  lady's  maid  to  Lady  Lyt- 
ton — to  be  hereafter  noticed. 

They  returned  to  England  early  in  the  year  1S34. 

CCLXXIL 

To  Mrs.  Bulwer,  Tonbridge  Wells,  Kent. 
[Literaiy  Fund  dinner.] 

14^7i  May,  1829. 

My  Dearest  And  Darlingest  Poodle, — 

I  was  sorry  to  write  yon  so  liurried  a  letter  yesterday.  I 
was  so  terribly  occupied  the  whole  day  that  I  was  unable  to 


Lord  Lyttofis   Letters.  379 

prevent  it.  I  gave  you,  liowevcr,  a  notable  description  of 
the  party  a<:  Jordan's,  and  I  do  not  kno\v  that  there  is  any- 
thing else  for  mo  to  add.  How  uncomfortable  !  I  liear  00 
say.  So  yesterday  I  went  to  the  Lit.  Fund.  I  had  a  place 
of  honour  near  the  Duke  of  Somerset.  Jerdan  introduced 
me  to  him.  A  Mr.  Spottiswoode  sat  on  one  side  of  me,  and 
a  Mr.  Edward  Carrington,  a  good  sort  of  a  fellow,  on  the 
other.  Dinner  extremely  bad — wines  worse.  But  on  the 
whole  it  was  not  disagreeable.  Xo  healths  but  public  ones. 
I  stayed  till  it  Avas  time  to  go  to  Lady  Salisbury's,  where  I 
met  the  Gascoigues,  Chester  L^  G-.  Percy  and  Silvia  Doyl, 
with  others  too  long  to  be  enumerated  :  it  was  very  stupid, 
and  I  did  not  stay  above  10  minutes.  And  now  I  must  tell 
00  about  a  house  !  I  saw  Sir  W.  Waller  accidentally,  and  I 
think  we  shall  have  it  :  it  contains  3  drawing-rooms,  a  li- 
brary, not  large  but  convenient,  a  good  dinning-room  hand- 
some hall  and  staircase,  baths,  good  offices  and  tolera'de 
bed-rooms,  coach-house  and  six  stall  stables ;  lease  28  years 
—they  ask  £3,000.  I  shall  offer  £2,000.  It  is  very  elegant 
gentlemanlike  quiet  house,  not  imposing  nor  poor,  but 
about  equal  to  the  one  in  St.  James's  Place,  and,  if  I  can 
get  it  cheap,  will  be  a  treasure — not  otherwise. 

And  now,  God  bless,  luve,  and  keep  00,  my  ownest  and 

prettiest. 

Oo  OWN  Pups. 

You  had  better  take  a  house  only  by  the  week,  after 
our  jiresent  one  is  out.  You  will  find  plenty  to  do  that,  if 
you  say  it  is  likely  you  will  continue,  for  even  if  I  get  this 
house,  I  do  not  vote  being  in  Town  this  year.  You  see  [ 
caa  say  nothing  about  coming  to  you,  because  I  cannot 
before  the  day  after  to-morrow  have  the  answer  about  the 
house,  but  Saturday  or  Sunday  I  shall  certainly  come. 
Will  you  tell  the  Nurse  that  a  letter  came  to  her  directed 
to  me  at  the  Athenaeum  :  it  was  sent  away.  Of  course  you 
had  better  tell  her  this,  as  she  may  be  looking  out  for  the 


380  Lord  Lyttons  Letters, 

letter,  and  tell  her  not  to  have  letters  directed  the  Athc- 
nasum,  as  they  won't  take  my  Servants'  Letters  in.  Love 
to  the  child.     God  love  and  bless  00  ! 

Oo  Pups  again  Pups. 

OCLXXIIL 

To  Mrs.  Bulwer,  Tonbridge  Wells,  Kent. 

[Houses. — "  Devereux."] 

May  15th,  1829. 

My  Dearest,  And  Darlingest  Poodle, — 

Me  has  got  00  letter  ;  you  are  right — the  great  objection 
to  Sir  W.  Waller's  bouse  is  being  the  corner  of  Little  Stan- 
hope St.;  it  consists  on  the  ground  floor  of  a  long  hall, 
something  like  the  one  at  Culverts,  a  stone  staircase,  a 
library  about  the  size  of  Villiers'  room  at  Woodcot,  open- 
ing with  folding-doors  into  a  long  dining-room;  upstairs 
there  are  three  drawing-rooms  en  suite,  not  very  large,  and 
requiring  folding-doors  and  one  or  two  slight  alterations 
which  Balls  says  will  cost  al)out  £140.  It  is  certainly  a 
very  gentlemanlike  elegant  house,  but  not  large  nor  impos- 
ing. The  difference  between  it  and  Nashe's  is  th:it  the  lat- 
ter is  striking,  the  former  unexceptionable.  I  have  just 
heard  of  another  house  nearly  as  cheap,  and  I  hear  much 
finer — Lord  Aboyne's  in  Charles  St.,  Berkeley  Square,  viz. 
£200  a  year  and  £3000  ;  inagnihcently  furnished.  Now  as 
Sir  Waller's  will  cost  in  fnrniture  nearly  £2000,  besides 
the  i)rice  I  give,  it  comes,  you  see,  to  nearly  the  same  sum. 

I  saw  Colburn  to-day  ;  "Devereux"  is  to  be  out  the 
first  week  in  June.  Lady  is  in  disgrace,  having  broken 
some  w  indows.  You  had  better  not  take  any  house  but  by 
the  week.  Glad  you  like  "  Camilla  ";  /thought  it  charm- 
ing. Page  I  saw  also  to-day ;  he  hopes  to  let  Woodcot, 
and  is  going  to  advertize  it.  How  I  abhor  that  place!  So 
I  do  this  !     It  is  misery  to  live  in   Town,  misery  I     What 


Lord  Lyttons  Letters,  381 

are  we  to  do  ?     ''Faith,"  as  Count  Devereux  would  say 
"  it  is  hard  to  find  any  place  to  live  in  !" 

God  bless  00,  darling. 

Ever  00  own,  own  Pups. 

Me  is  much  out  of  spirits. 

CCLXXIV. 
I      To  Mrs.  E.  L.  Bulwer,  Tonbridge  Wells,  Kent. 

[Miss  Greene  a  "  dangorous  and  malignant  enemy." — His  religious 
views. — Her  "  blackest  treachery."] 

May  16fh,  1829. 
My  Dearest  And  Darlingest  Poodle, — 

I  still  linger  in  Town,  l)ut  I  think  I  shall  join  you 
to-morrow.  I  shall  dine  on  the  road  and  be  with  you  about 
7.  I  may  not  perhaps  come,  but  think  it  most  likely.  I 
will  talk  to  you  about  the  house  in  Hertford  St.  There 
are  2  letters  for  you,  one  from  Miss  Browne,  one  from  Miss 
Greene  ;  the  latter  you  may  answer  as  you  please,  but  I 
shall  always  consiJer  her  from  this  time  out  a  most  malig- 
nant and  dangerous  enemy  of  niiiie.  I  enclose  her  letter. 
You  will  see  that  I  allude  to  the  part  about  my  religion. 
Tiiere  is  not  a  doubt  but  what  she  and  she  alone  has  spread 
that  report  among  the  cleric;il  friends  to  which  she  refers. 
Nobody  without  knowing  my  oj)inions  could  ever  see  any- 
thing the  leas',  irreligious  i'l  either  "  Pel  ham  "  or  The 
"  Disowned,"'  nobody  !  She  has  taken  advantage  of  her 
living  in  the  same  roof  with  me  to  blacken  my  character, 
and  poison,  so  far  as  good  or  evil  report  can  do  so,  ray 
peace  of  mind.  Of  course  you  will  not  see  the  thing  in  the 
same  light.  It  is  right  that,  since  you  hate  my  friends, 
yon  should  love  my  enemies.  But  I  do  not  reproach  you 
with  it,  my  dearest  love,  for  I  know  that  you  will  only 
defend  her  thro'  goodness.  All  that  I  ask  of  you  is  to 
extend  this  goodness  to  those  near  and  dear  to  me,  and  not 
while  you  can  pardon  those  who  most  vitally  and  most 
treacherously  injure  me  only  have  detestation  for  my  own 


382  Lord  Lyttons  Letters. 

brother.  Parkinson  lias  paid  £43.  God  love,  bless  and 
keep  00,  mine  own  Poodle,  and  do  not  wonder  that  I  should 
express  myself  bitterly  a'^ainst  one  to  whom,  so  far  as  I  was 
able,  I  have  endeavoured  when  I  had  the  opportunity  to 
show  kindness  and  regard,  and  who  luis  iu  return  raked 
out  of  my  whole  character  the  only  point  which  the  evil 
temper  of  the  world  could  interpret  to  my  disadvantsige. 
You  will  see  why  it  must  be  her.  Nobody  could  perceive 
in  '^  Pelham "  or  "The  Disowned"  anything  against 
leligion  :  So  much  the  contrary,  that  a  Bishop  (Sumner) 
said  of  the  latter  that  it  was  the  most  Christian  novel  he 
had  ever  read.  But  directly  an  author's  principles  are 
known,  a  new  interpretation  is  given  to  his  work.  Miss 
Greene  knew  mine.  On  returning  to  Ireland  she  spoke  of 
them  jirobably  in  hint  and  whisper  ;  this  spreads,  no  one 
knows  how,  and  at  last  produses  that  clerical  abhorrence  of 
which  she  speaks.  She  probably  never  knew  those  clergy- 
men ;  they  might  never  have  seen  her  ;  their  information 
comes  third  or  fourth  hand  ;  but  there  was  no  original 
source  to  that  information  but  Miss  Greene — not  another 
human  being  in  Ireland  could  have  guessed  my  sentiments. 
She  has  acted  treacherously,  but  I  am  quite  sure  that  she 
knows  not  the  mischief  she  has  done  me,  the  deep  indelible 
mischief,  tlie  persecution,  the  hatred,  the  ruin  to  my  pro- 
spects of  fortune  and  advancement  which  she  has  entailed 
upon  me.  All  this  she  never  knew,  but  she  knew  enough 
of  the  evil  to  render  her  guilty  of  the  blackest  treachery. 

CCLXXV. 

To  j\[rs.  Bulwer,  Tonbridge  Wells,  Kent. 

[Sir  W.  Waller's  bouse.] 

May  2Qth,  1829. 
My  Dearest  Love  And  Darlingest  Poodle, — I  know  it 
will  give  00  pleasure  to  receive  one  line  from  me.     Me  got 


Lord  Lyttofts   Letters.  383 

home  safe  but  very  tired,  went  to  the  sale,  bought  nothing, 
have  spoken  agnin  about  Sir  W.  Waller^s  house,  and  tliink 
me  siiall  certainly  take  it.  But  do  you  know  any  one  who 
would  speak  to  Sir  Waller  about  it,  for,  as  it  is  now  no 
longer  his,  he  would  have  no  objection  to  speak  candidly 
about  it  ?  If  you  do,  it  would  be  the  best  place  imagin- 
able. 

My  Mother  is  in  Town — no  news.  God  love,  bless  and 
keep  00,  my  own  dear  dear  o«  n  Poodle,  whom  me  loves 
better  than  ever. 

Pups. 

They  say  they  sent  me  a  let.er  to  TT)nbiidge,  which 
came  by  the  2-y  post  to  the  Athenaeum — enquire  for  it. — 
Fenton's. 

CCLXXVL 

To  Mrs.  E.  L.  Bulwer,  Tonbiidge  Wells,  Kent. 

[Houses. — Lord  Londonderry's  sale.] 

May  2Ut,  1829. 
My  Darlingest  Poodle, — I  feel  that  00  must  be  very 
unpleasantly  situated  in  the  uncertainty  about  a  house.  I 
am  at  this  moment  waiting  the  arrival  of  the  2^  post,  and 
shall  not  send  this  till  the  last  instant  in  the  hope  of 
receiving  a  letter.  I  have  offered  £5  a  week  to  take  a  house 
for  3  months.  I  think  it  would  be  Yory  desirable  to  be 
near  Town.  The  house  is  exceedingly  clean  and  pretty, 
with  a  very  nice  garden.  If  I  do  not  get  it,  you  had  better 
take  the  one  at  Frant  or  Tonbridge,  as  you  like,  but  I 
think  the  objection  00  miide  to  the  former  very  strong,  but 
by  no  means  sufficient  to  prevent  00  taking  it.  Mean\vhile, 
ask  to  continue  the  present  house  two  days  longer  than 
Tuesday,  paying  so  much  a  day — they  will  be  sure  to  let 
you,  if  you  send  directly  to  tell  the  people  at  Frant  and  at 
the  house  at  Tonbridge  Wells  that  they  shall  hear  on  Tues- 
day  morning,  by  which  day  you  will  have  my  decisive 


384  Lord  Lyttons  Letters. 

answer  about  the  house  ;it  East  Sheen  ;  aud  you  will  then 
have  two,  or,  if  you  like,  three  days  to  pack  up. 

Mr.  Colburn  in  the  Court  Joitrnal  has  had  an  article 
"written  to  seem  mine.  You  never  saw  such  a  good  or 
rather  shameful  cojiy  !     I  am  called  ''  Mivortinos  "  in  it. 

Lord  Londonderry's  house  is  to  be  sokl  very  cheap  ;  I 
shall  attend  the  sale  on  Monday  ;  mennwhile  I  cannot  get 
an  answer  about  Sir  W.  "Waller's.  I  find  I  cannot  get  a 
letter  by  the  2^  post  before  8,  they  promised  me  I  should 
hear.  Meanwhile,  my  own  dearest  love,  as  I  feel  how  I 
feel  how  verv  unjjleasant  it  must  be  for  you  to  be  in  this 
uncertainty,  act  as  00  please  ;  but  I  think  the  plan  I  have 
proposed  de  best.  God  ever  love  and  keep  00,  mine  own 
dear  dear  dear  love. 

Pups. 

Let  me  know  exactly  what  00  has  done  by  Monday, 
and  in  ease  00  likes  to  take  a  house,  me  won't  decide  till 
me  hears. 

CCLXXVIL 

To  Mrs.  E.  L.  Bulwer,  Tonbridge,  Kent. 
[Houses.] 
Mine  Own  Own  0;vn  Dearest  Dearest  Poodle, — 

Me  has  been  greatly  relieved  by  00  letter,  unsatisfactory 
as  it  is.  It  is  something  to  think  00  is  better,  tho'  me 
would  give  my  coat,  and  sheepskin  into  the  bargain  to 
know  00  was  better.  Me  sends  00  this  in  a  parcel  that  00 
may  have  it  to-night  and  know  that  since  00  is  better,  me 
does  not  come  to  Tonbridge  ;  for  in  the  first  place,  the 
treaty  about  the  house  is  so  far  gone  into,  that  it  would  be 
to  the  last  degree  inconvenient  to  leave  Town  till  it  is  con- 
cluded ;  but  in  the  second  place  me  has  heard  of  a  house 
near  Town  likley  to  suit  us,  and  very  cheap  ;  so  that  me 
sail  try  to  see  it  to-day,  for  it  would  be  better  to  leave  Ton- 
bridge  altogether. 


Lord  Lyttons  Letters.  385 

Me  saw  in  the  Morning  Post  to-day  that  a  gentleman's 
house  at  Tonbridge  Wells  w:is  to  be  let  for  three  months 
on  moderate  terms ;  3  or  3  cows,  pleasure  grounds  etc. 
apply  to  Mr.  C.  Webb,  House  Agent,  Tonbridge  Wells. 
Suppose  you  api)ly  there,  and  let  me  know  ?  If  the  worst 
comes  to  the  worst,  we  will  take  the  house  with  the  rock- 
ing horse.  For  Heaven's  sake  get  as  fast  as  you  can  out  of 
the  horrid  place  00  is  in. 

Me  won't  use  00  note  to  Sir  W.  W,  now,  tho'  it  would 
have  done  very  well. 

Me  sends  00  "Eichelieu,"  which  everybody  praises. 
The  Author,  whom  I  don't  know,  sent  it  to  me.  Colburn 
is  so  busy  with  the  infernal  Court  Journal  that  I  can't  get 
him  to  tliink  of  anything.else. 

Me  sends  00  the  one  about  me  ;  it  is  the  first  article, 
*'Mivortinos"  is  evidently  me  or  rather  '*Mr.  Pelham." 

If  de  house  is  refused  me,  and  the  one  near  Town  won't 
do,  me  sail  come  down  to-morrow,  for  me  does  assure  00 
that  me  is  pining  for  want  of  seeing  00,  and  me  does 
assure  00  that  me  has  a  perpetual  ache  at  my  heart  when 
me  thinks  of  00,  and  the  only  thing  that  keeps  me  awav 
from  00  is  circumstance  that  if  me  was  to  leave  Town 
to-day  with  all  the  business  undone,  me  should  have  to 
come  up  again  and  rmew  it  directly  after  ;  whereas  if  me 
waits  a  d:iy  or  two,  me  sail  come  for  good.  Me  docs  hope 
to  come  to-morrow — if  me  does  not,  it  is  necessity ;  but 
me  thinks  00  had  better  certainly  not  expect  me  before 
Monday  night.  God  ever  love,  keep  and  pless  00,  my  own 
dearest  dear  love,  angel,  Poodle,  and  Queen  Bee.  200,000 
\kisses~\. 

Pups. 


386  Lord  Lyttoris  Letters. 


CCLXXVIII. 

To  Mrs.  Bulwer,  Tonb ridge,  Kent. 
[Town  Houses.] 

My  Own  Dearest  Goodest  And  Prettiest  Of  Little  Dogs, 
— I  send  this  in  a  parcel  by  the  earliest  coach  that  you  may 
receive  in  time  intelligence  respecting  oo  kennel.  Take, 
my  own  darling,  a  house  at  Tonbridge  or  Fraut,  as  you 
like ;  me  has  given  up  de  kennel  near  East  Sheen,  and  all 
idea  of  taking  one  near  Town,  since  oo  likes  Tonbridge; 
therefore,  take  oo  kennel ;  do  what  oo  likes  about  it,  and 
me  will  come  as  soon  as  me  possibly  can. 

Oo  is  right ;  me  should  write  oo  in  the  morning  but 
these  sales  begin  at  1,  and  I  am  not  up  till  11,  and  me  has 
such  work  with  my  proofs  between  tliat  time,  for  me 
makes  all  possible  haste  with  them,  and  yet  me  gets  on  but 
slowly. 

Me  can't  get  an  answer  about  the  Hertford  St.  Kennel, 
but  me  almost  hopes  me  shan't  get  it,  for  me  thinks  it  is 
not  fine  enough  for  us  great  dogs. 

Me  sends  00  one  of  Colburn's  Court  Journals,  me  is  going 
to  bid  for  Londondcery  House  to-morrow,  as  me  hears  it 
will  sell  for  £5000  ;  but  me  don't  believe  a  word  of  it.  Me 
crunclicd  my  bones  with  my  Mother  to-day,  who  was  very 
good  to  me,  and  says  she  will  allow  me  £300  a  year,  and 
£150  of  which  will  be  paid  to-morrow.  Good-bye,  dearest, 
God  ever  love  and  keep  and  bless  oo. 

Pups. 

Oh  !  Me  has  forgot  to  say  that  me  has  every  day  been 
busy  about  oo  ducks  and  flowers,  but  dere  are  no  peas  yet, 
tho'  me  is  promised  some  by  Tuesday. 


Lord  Lyi ton's  Letters.  387 


CCLXXIX. 

To  Mrs.  Bulwer,  Tonbridge,  Kent. 
[House  in  Hertford  Street. — "Devereux."] 

May  23rd,  1829. 

Oo  has  done  quite  right,  mine  own  darling  Poodle,  as 
indeed  00  always  does  do,  about  the  house,  and  me  is  very 
glad  it  is  settled.  Me  has  just  come  home  from  Lord  Lon- 
dondeerj^s  Sale  ;  the  house  went  for  £5,200  guineas.  The 
furniture  sales  last  till  Thursday,  and  I  won't  therefore  wait 
for  it.  I  think  I  shall  be  able  to  run  down  to  00  on  Wednes- 
day, if  it  is  a  fine  day,  and  stay  till  Sunday,  but  I  hope  for 
much  longer.  "J'here  is,  however,  a  great  sale  on  Monday 
of  ancient  furnituie,  which  I  should  much  like  to  attend. 
Let  John  be  at  Sevenoaks  at  4  O'clk.  on  Wednesday  with 
the  dun  marc,  and  let  him  stay  till  8  O'clk.  :  If  I  am  not 
down  by  that  hour,  let  him  go  back  ;  unless  this  direction 
is  contradicted  in  my  letter  to-morrow,  let  it  be  conclusive. 
Tho  Inn  John  is  to  stay  at  is  the  first  Inn  on  entering  the 
town  from  Tonbridgo  to  the  right  hand  side  of  the  way. 
There  is  no  signe  up,  but  it  is  a  large  white  Inn. 

Me  will  send  00  down  the  Court  Journal  directly  I  get 
it  from  my  Mother.  Me  has  again  been  disappointed  about 
de  peas,  but  me  docs  hope  00  will  very  soon  have  them. 
Me  does  feel  that  00  must  be  very  dull,  mine  own  poor 
darling,  and  me  will  give  up  auctions  and  everything  else 
rather  than  00  should  again  be  left  to  ooself  so  long  :  that 
indeed  is  selfish,  for  me  docs  feel  very  uneasy  and  unhappy 
without  00  bright  brown  eyes,  tho'  they  are  not  so  big  as 
mine  !  Me  is  promised  positively  to  hear  about  the  house 
in  Hertford  St.  to-morrow. 

Me  has  been  looking  well  over  it,  and  it  will  certainly  be 
a  great  bargain  if  I  get  it.     I  do  so  loath  the  idea  of  going 


388  Lord  Lyttons   Letters. 

to  Woodcot,  but  I  ought  to  do  it,  and  I  liave  really  no  time 
to  lose. 

I  can't  get  Mr.  Colburn  to  puff  me  and  good  Mr. 
**Devereux."  Mc  called  on  Sir  John  to-day,  but  ho  was 
out.  Me  read  my  Mother  some  part  of  "  Devereux  "  last 
night.  She  Avas  delighted  with  it.  I  told  her  some  people 
said  I  meat  her  for  Lady  F.  Polham,  and  she  was  rather 
pleased  than  not  at  it.  She  in  her  turn  told  me  Mordauut 
had  been  taken  for  good  Mr.  Pu})ps — bow  wow  ! 

Good-bye,  mine  ownest  and  fondest  !  Me  has  come  in 
at  4  O'clk.  to  write  to  00,  that  me  may  not  be  hurried,  and 
me  thinks  this  is  a  very  tolerably  long  letter,  tho'  me 
knows  00  will  not  allow  it.  Adieu,  darling.  God  bless  00, 
and  believe  me,  00  own  own 

Pups. 

CCLXXX. 

MeS,  E.  L.  Bulwee,  Tonbridge  "Wells,  Kent. 

[Offer  for  house. — Keeping  his  birthday.] 

May  2bth  1829. 
My  Own  Dearest  Dearest  Love, — Oo  was  too  kind,  too 
good  to  keep  my  birthday,  and  me  does  think  00  is  much, 
too  great  a  darling — especially  after  my  jealousy  of,  and 
unkindness  to,  00  favourite  Bell.  But  00  sail  have  as  many 
kisses  as  00  likes  when  v;e  meet  ;  and  when  Avill  that  be  ? 
Ah  !  my  own  Poodle,  that  is  more  than  me  can  now  say, 
for  lust  night  I  saw  de  House  Agent,  and  he  agreed  to  take 
£2,200  for  the  house,  if  I  would  pay  400  gs.  for  the  fix- 
tures. This  I  refused,  and  I  am  to  hear  this  evening  if 
my  first  offer,  £2,200,  will  be  accepted  for  the  whole.  I 
myself  think  it  will  come  to  £2,400  all  together,  which  will 
certainly  be  cheap  for  it.  But  I  think  it  will  be  foolish  to 
leave  Town  till  it  is  settled  one  way  or  the  other,  especially 
as  I  wish  to  stay  when  I  come.     Me  assures  00,  darling. 


Lord  Lyttons  Letters.  389 

me  does  most  earnestly  long  to  see  00,  and  as  for  dese  auc- 
tions, me  wishes  they  had  been  all  burnt :  me  has  not 
bought  anything  at  them. 

Will  00  send  me  the  remaining  MS.  of  Vol.  III.  of 
"  Deverenx"  au  ijliitot.  Book  it  carefully.  Me  does  feel, 
darling  durling  Poodle,  that  00  will  be  so  kind  as  to  moan 
when  me  does  not  come  to-morrow,  and  me  has  been  all  de 
morning  about  de  peas,  in  order  to  console  00  ;  but  they 
only  had  a  few  very  early  this  morning,  sold  to  the  Duke 
of  Leeds  for  4  guineas  the  quart.  Me  told  de  man  me  did 
not  care  what  me  payed  to  have  them.  Will  00  have  de 
ducks  without  de  peas  ? 

This  day  came  a  card  from  Mrs.  W.  Lewis,  asking  me 
to  dinner  on  the  13'^^,  I  am  in  doubt  whether  I  shall  go  ; 
it  depends  on  the  house.  I  hope,  dearest,  that  00  agrees 
with  me,  that  one  ought  to  settle  about  the  kennel  one  way 
or  the  other  since  the  negotiation  has  begun.  Everything 
at  L^  London deery's  sale  went  very  high,  and  yet  was  so 
bad.  Me  has  put  off  going  to  my  Mother  in  order  to  write 
to  00,  mine  own  darling,  and  me  must  now  go  and  dress 
to  dine  with  W",  where  me  is  to  meet  Miss  Fane.  Me 
sent  Jordan  de  books.  Oo  understand,  darling,  that  John 
is  not  to  go  to-morrow,  nor  till  he  hears  from  me.  Ever 
00  own  own  own 

Pups. 

2,000,000  \Tf)iarlc8  of  Mss6s\  and  one  to  de  child.  Bow 
wow  !    5rr-err-err  ! 

CCLXXXL 

To  Mrs.  Bulwer,  Tonbridge,  Wells. 

[Treaty  for  the  house.] 

May  mth,  1829. 
My  Dearest  And  Darlingest  Poodle,  Prettiest  of  Dogs, — 
Me  hopes  me  sail  very  soon  get  down  to  00  now,  for  Mr. 


390  Lord  Lytto7is  Letters. 

Robins  has  offered  me  the  house  at  £3,400,  and,  as  I  have 
offered  £2,300,  I  suppose  me  shall  split  the  difference  ;  but 
as  I  think  we  had  better  not  do  a  thing  of  this  sort  in  too 
great  a  hurry,  I  have  ordered  Balls  to  take  another  and 
most  accurate  survey,  and  I  have  resolved  to  call  on  Sir  W. 
Waller,  if  you  will  give  me  a  note  to  him  :  recall  yourself 
therein  to  his  remembrance  ;  say  that  you  must  throw  your- 
self on  his  courtesy  for  an  answer  to  an  enquiry  which  you 
would  not  trouble  him  with  if  he  were  not  the  only  person 
who  could  answer  it.  Mr.  Bulwer  had  been  offered  Sir 
Watkin's  late  house  in  Hertford  St.  upon  advantageous 
terms,  but  that  I  had  accidentally  heard  that  there  was  some 
great,  tho'  unseen,  objection  to  it,  which  had  caused  Sir 
Watkin  to  give  it  up.  Not  being  able  to  ascertain  from  any 
one  else  the  nature  of  this  objection,  and  knowing  that  Sir 
Watkin  had  no  longer  an  interest  in  the  house,  you  were 
induced  at  last  to  entrust  yourself  to  his  kindness  (or  remem- 
brance, or  politeness)  and  make  the  enquiry  of  him  ;  that 
I — Mr.  Bulwer — was  the  bearer  of  this  note,  and  that  you 
should  consider  yourself  greatly  obliged  to  him  if  he  would 
communicate  his  answer  to  me.  Some  such  letter  would 
answer  every  purpose,  and  if  it  is  a  little  intrusive  I  think 
the  thing  gained  well  worth  it.  Sir  C.  Doyle  has  asked  me 
to  dinner  to-day ;  I  shall  go  out  of  curiosity.  Me  is  now 
going  to  de  sale,  and  sail  finish  after  it. 

Me  has  been  to  the  sale  and  bought  1  fender,  one  rug, 
1  set  of  irons,  5  chairs,  for  £3  2s. — that  is  all.  Since  then 
I  have  seen  a  man  who  knows  Sir  W.  W.  and  who  will  call 
with  me  there  to-morrow,  but  you  will  write  nevertheless  as 
me  said  before.  I  have  also  heard  two  stories  against  the 
house,  one  of  the  drains,  another  that  the  foundation  was 
injured  by  a  sewer  made  some  time  ago. 

There  is  nothing  now  but  the  house  affair  to  keep  me  in 
Town,  and  me  does  long  to  come  back. 

Pups. 


Lord  Lyttons  Letters.  391 


CCLXXXII. 

To  Mrs.  E.  L.  Bulwer,  Tonbridge  Wells,  Kent. 
[Quite  Miserable  to  hear  sucli  aa  account  of  her.] 

May  28t?h  1829. 

My  Own  Dear  Dear  Dear  Love, — I  am  quite  miserable 
to  hear  such  an  account  of  you.  I  immediately  hope  to  be 
with  you  to-day,  and  I  am  positively  wretched  not  to  do  so, 
but  I  had  made  an  appointment  with  Robins  at  6  this  even- 
ing, and  I  wish  when  1  do  join  you  not  to  leave  you  again. 
But  I  don't  care  for  houses  or  sales  in  comparison  with  one 
moment's  health  to  00.  You  have  no  idea  how  unhappy  I 
am  about  you.  At  all  events,  unless  your  letter  received 
to-morrow  assures  me  you  are  much  better,  I  shall  certainly 
be  witli  you  to-morrow  night,  and  we  will  then  take  00  out 
of  that  horrid  hole.  Meanwhile,  for  God's  sake,  take  care 
of  ooself  and  have  advice. 

Me  has  heard  about  Sir  W.  W.'s  house,  from  Sir  W". 
himself,  and  will  tell  00  tlie  objections  when  we  meet ;  but  I 
have  still  offered  £3,200,  and  if  we  can  get  it,  shall  think 
we  do  extremely  well.     I  am  to  hear  to-night. 

I  din'd  with  Sir  C.  last  evs  ;  Silvia  looked  ill ;  met 
Lord  Acheson.     Me  has  accepted  de  Windhams'  invite. 

God  love,  bless  and  keep  00,  my  own  poor  dearest  love. 
Oo  can't  get  this  in  time  to  put  me  off  by  a  false  account 
of  ooself,  and  me  sail  certainly  be  with  00  to-morrow  night, 
unless  00  letter  gives  me  better  news.  Ever,  ever,  ever  00 
own  own 

Pups. 


392  Lord  Lyttons  Letters. 


CCLXXXIII. 

To  Mrs.  E.  L.  Bulwer,  Tonbridge  Wells,  Kent. 
["Devereux." — Moore,  "  hot,  laughing  and  vulgar."] 

Maij  22th,  1839. 

My  Dearest,  Dearest  Poodle, — Me  sent  oo  u  parcel  two 
hours  ago,  but  me  knows  oo  will  expect  to  hear  from  me ; 
and  so  mc  will  write  oo  a  single  line.  Me  called  on  the 
Dyers  as  oo  wisbed,  and  asked  if  tbere  was  one  of  tbe  fam- 
ily at  home,  but  there  was  not  ;  so  me  was  forced  to  come 
away  without  seeing  tbem.  Me  has  also  been  to  see  that 
house  in  tbe  country,  but  it  is  too  dear  ;  and  me  thinks  we 
had  better  continue  for  the  present  at  1'onbridge,  if  oo  can 
get  a  better  house.  But  at  all  events,  and  at  tbe  latest,  me 
will  be  with  oo  on  Monday  nigbt,  and  me  would  set  off 
immediately,  were  it  not  for  this  house  business.  To  tell 
you  the  truth  candidly,  I  am  indifferent  about  it;  if  we 
don't  get  it,  we  shall  save  money,  wbich  is  a  great  tiling. 
Page  has  written  to  me  be  is  so  busy,  tbat  ho  begs  I  will 
take  the  letting  of  Woodcot  on  my  own  bands,  which  I 
sball  now  do.  You  have  no  idea,  how  I  am  plagued  about 
the  conclusion  of  "Devereux  " — so  hurried  I  can't  write  a 
line,  and  so  bothered  by  the  printers  to  send  them  all  the 
MS.  Me  has  sent  of  to  M.  de  Belloc  the  first  Vol.  of  Master 
"  Devereux,"  as  me  thinks  he  looks  very  well  in  print.  I 
hear  that  Henry  is  appointed  to  Vienna,  and  that  it  is  con- 
sidered the  best  Mission  there  is  at  present. 

De  London  Revieiv  is  to  come  out  to-morrow,  and  me 
believes  there  will  be  an  attack  upon  me  in  it ;  if  so,  me 
will  bite  'em  again  most  furiously.  Me  is  dreadfully  bored 
here,  and  every  one  dislikes  me,  which  me  thinks  a  very 
great  big  shame  ;  but  then  to  be  sure  me  is  always  snarling. 


Lord  Lyttons   Letters.  393 

God  ever  love,  bless  and  keep  00,  my  dearest   Poodle, 
who  never  bores  me,  nor  dislikes  me, 

Oo  OWN  OWN  POOR  Pups. 
Moore  has  just  entered — looking  so  red,  hot,  laughing 
and  vulgar. 

Me  does  so,  so,  so  hope  that  this  will  find  00  nearly 
well.     2,000,000,000  \kisRes.'\ 

Pups. 

CCLXXXIV. 

To  Mus.  BuLWER,  Tonbridge  Wells,  Kent. 

[Decided  to  buy  the  House  in  Hertford  Street.] 

May  30th,  1829. 
My  Dearest  Dear,  Dear  Poodle, — Me  thinks  from  00 
letter  that  00  is  angry  with  me,  or  hurt  that  me  does  not 
come  down  to  00.  God  knows  that  I  do  most  earnestly 
wish  to  come,  and  that  I  am  in  a  state  of  perpetual  pain  at 
the  thought  of  being  away  from  00,  now  00  is  ill.  And  yet 
it  is  folly  to  come,  and  then  go  the  next  day  ;  for  me  has 
been  more  wearied  and  annoyed  about  the  house  than  you 
would  think  for ;  and  when  you  consider  that  2,400 
guineas  is  all  the  fortune  I  have  in  the  world,  except  the 
Irish  propert}',*  you  may  readily  conceive  that  it  would  be 
madness  to  give  it  away  in  a  hurry.  Thus  I  have  been 
literally  slaved  to  death  with  the  enquiries  I  have  made 
about  the  house.  This  very  day  I  have  been  to  all  the 
surveyors  of  the  parish,  and  am,  upon  my  honor,  ready  to 
drop  with  fatigue ;  for,  what  obliges  me  to  make  still 
greater  enquiries,  is  the  fact  of  their  being  another  appli- 
cant for  the  house,  and  1  am  pressed  for  a  reply.  Now,  to 
tell  you  the  truth,  there  was  something  alarming  about  the 
foundations  of  the  house,  which  obliged  me  to  institute  the 
most  minute  enquiries  by  several  people  ;  and  had  I  left 

*  The  Irish  property  was  Miss  Wheeler's. 


394  Lord  Lyttoiis  Letters. 

London  in  the  midst  of  these,  I  should  have  either  lost  the 
house,or  decided  upon  it  without  due  enquiry,  and  found  it 
impossible  and  unsafe  peril aps  to  live  in  it.  To  buy  a 
house  is  not  like  hiring  one  for  a  mouth.  When  oo  con- 
siders all  this,  00  cannot  think  me  unkind  in  staying,  even 
tho'  my  heart  bled  when  I  thought  oo  was  ill  and  away. 
God  love  oo,  darling  !  Me  often  thinks  oo  Avill  never, 
never  know  how  really  deeply  engrossingly  I  love  you — 
until — but  it  is  no  matter.  At  length  I  have  made  up  my 
mind  to  buy  the  house  tit  the  price  they  ask,  viz,  2.400 
guineas  or  £2,570,  for  I  cannot  get  it  cheaper,  and  I  shall 
be  with  the  lawyers  on  Monday  about  it,  and  I  will  then 
come.  Another  thing  which  has  bored  me  dreadfully,  has 
been  looking  for  a  house  near  Town,  and  among  all  these 
things  my  head  is  distracted.  It  is  a  great  pity  you  detest 
Tonbridge — where  can  we  go  ?  I  hope  and  trust  in  God  that 
you  arc  well  now,  or  nearly  so — no  one  can  tell  how  full  of 
all  sickening,  bitter  and  wretched  feelings  I  am.  I  would 
come  to  you  now  by  the  chaise,  but  I  should  not  be  there 
till  near  twelve,  and  you  would  be  in  bed  ;  besides,  since 
you  wish  so  to  leave  Tonbridge,  it  would  be  better  if  I 
employed  to-morrow  in  searching  for  a  house.  I  must 
break  off ;  the  postman  waits.     God  be  with  oo. 

Oo  own  darling  uneasy  and  worn-out 

Pups. 

This  next  letter  was  written  five  years  afterwards,  in 
1834. 

CCLXXXV. 

To  Mrs  E.  L.  Bulwer,  36  Hertford  St.,  May  Fair,  London. 

[The  letter  written    by  Mr.  E.  L.  Bulwer,  from    the  Castle  Hotel, 
after  a  gross  personal  outrage.] 

Richmond,  Juhf  Uli,  1834. 
It  is  with  the  greatest  disadvantage  that  I  now  write  to 
you,  labouring  as  I  do,  under  the  most  painful  feelings, 


Lord  Lyttons  Letters.  395 

and  knowing  that  I  shall  have,  in  you,  a  harsh  judge  and 
an  unjust  interpreter.  But  the  task  must  be  done,  and  I 
will  only  beseech  y<ju  in  the  first  place,  not  to  arouse  your- 
self more  against  me  than  is  necessary,  on  the  many  topics 
on  which  I  shall  have  to  touch.  You  have  been  cruelly 
outraged — ami  I  stand  eternally  degraded  in  my  own  eyes. 
I  do  not  for  a  moment  blame  you  for  the  publicity  which 
you  gave  to  an  affront  nothing  but  frenzy  can  extenuate— 
I  do  not  bin  me  you  for  exposing  me  to  my  sevants — for 
seeking  that  occasion  to  vindicate  yourself  to  my  Mother 
— nor  for  a  single  proceeding  of  that  most  natural  conduct, 
which  has  probably  by  this  time  made  me  the  theme  for  all 
the  malignity  of  London.  All  this  was  perfectly  justifiable 
after  what  had  taken  place,  and  I  have  only  myself  to 
blame,  for  having  been  betrayed  into  such  madness  and 
giving  myself,  in  a  moment  of  passion,  so  wholly  into  the 
hands  of  my  enemies.  But  I  may  doubt  whether  it  was 
humane  to  tamper  with  so  terrible  an  infirmity  as  mine,  to 
provoke  so  gratuitously  in  the  first  instance,  to  continue  to 
sting  and  to  exasperate,  to  lead  me  on  step  by  step,  to 
rouse  me  out  of  the  resti-aints  I  visibly  endeavoured  to  put 
upon  myself,  to  resolve  on  not  allowing  me  to  escape 
myself,  to  persist  in  stretching  to  the  utmost  a  temper 
always  so  constitutionally  violent  and  stung  now  by  a 
thousand  cares  and  vexations  into  an  irritable  sourness, 
which  common  charity  might,  if  it  could  not  for  bear  with, 
at  least  not  unnoccessarily  gall — until  at  last  sense,  reason, 
manhood,  everything,  gave  way,  and  I  was  a  maniac  and  a 
brute.  I  doubt  if  that  was  humane.  God  forgive  me  ! 
but  if  I  allowed  myself  to  blame  others,  being  myself  to 
blame,  I  should  think  it  had  the  appearance  of  a  snare — 
that  my  weekest  point  was  known — my  infirmity  played 
with — in  order  that  without  an  excuse  to  myself,  I  might 
be  degraded  and  exposed.  But  I  have  no  wish  to  say  any- 
thing to  call  for  a  defence  from  you.     Let  this  pass.     I  am 


39!^  ^ord  Lyttons  Letters. 

now  convinced  of  what  I  have  long  believed  :  I  am  only 
fit  to  live  alone.  God  and  Nature  afflicted  me  with 
unsocial  habits,  week  nerves  and  violent  passions.  Every- 
thing in  my  life  tended  to  feed  these  infirmities,  until  they 
have  become  a  confirmed  and  incurable  disease,  which 
nothing  but  a  gentle  pity,  a  forbearing,  soothing,  watchful 
compassion — as  of  a  nurse  over  a  mad-man — can  render 
bearable  to  me  or  to  others.  God  forbid  that  any  one 
should  so  sacrifice  herself  for  me  !  Willingly  I  retire  from  a 
struggle  with  the  world,  which  I  have  borne  so  long  and 
with  such  constitutional  disadvantages.  Half — less  than 
half — of  what  I  have  gone  thro'  for  the  last  2  or  3  years 
made  Scott  an  idiot,  and  Gait  a  driveller  ;  and  yet  both 
those  men,  tho'  older,  were  probably  stronger  than  I  am, 
had  better  regulated  habits  of  labour,  far  fewer  cares, 
hardier  nerves,  and  more  cheerful  minds.  Their  fate 
never  warned  me — the  sudden  view  of  my  own  madness 
has.  I  shall  retreat  then  at  once  from  public  life,  and 
from  the  world.  I  shall  go  abroad  as  soon  as  possible — 
change  a  name  which  is  a  torment  to  me,  and  obtain  the 
only  blessings  a  poor  wretch  like  I  ("whom  slumber  soothes 
not,  pleasure  cannot  please ")  am  able  to  enjoy — rest, 
obsecurity  and  solitude. 

I  shall  write  from  the  Continent  to  England  after  a 
short  time,  announcing,  from  ill  health,  my  retirement 
from  Parliament.  So  much  for  me.  Now  for  yourself. 
You  part  from  me,  Rosina,  at  a  time  which,  whether  or 
not  you  calculated  it,  is  most  favourable  to  yourself — and  I 
am  delighted  at  it,  not  only  on  your  account,  but  mine. 
On  selfish  grounds,  whatever  gives  you  respectability  and 
fully  justifies  and  elevates  you,  is  best  for  me.  My  brother 
will  pay  you  every  attention,  and  I  would  beg  you  for  both 
our  sakcs  not  to  reject  it.  In  the  way  of  life  that  I  have 
already  chalked  out  for  myself,  very  little  suffices  for  my 
comforts  :  I  take  £200  a  year,  out  of  which  I  must  provide 


Lord  Lyttons   Letters.  397 

for  Cockburn's  annuity — the  remaining  £600  (allowed  by 
my  Mother)  I  settle  on  you.  You  will  receive  it  quarterly 
by  a  regular  circular  order  on  the  banker,  which  you  will 
have  in  a  day  or  two,  and  which  is  now  being  legally  drawn 
out.  I  also  beg  your  acceptance  of  the  house,  furniture, 
plate  and  everything — I  except  only  a  few  of  my  books, 
which  Henry  will  send  me.  You  cannot,  however,  I  fear, 
afford  to  live  in  the  house  ;  and  I  advise  you  to  sell  it  by 
auction.  It  will  at  least  fetch  with  the  furniture, 
£13,000 — out  of  wliich  £1200  are  due  to  a  mortgagee. 
The  furniture,  and  especially  the  books,  in  which  are  many 
MS.  notes  of  mine,  will  from  motives  of  curiosity,  probably 
sell  beyond  their  value — at  least  for  more  than  I  gave  for 
them.  If  3^ou  keep  the  house,  the  taxes  are  £200  a  year, 
the  mortgage  £60,  and  the  ground  rent  £40  ;  so  that  you 
had  better  let  it  as  soon  as  you  can,  and  for  whatever  it 
will  fetch,  consenting  leather  to  a  loss  than  having  the 
yearly  incumbrance  of  £280.  It  would  let  any  day  for 
£400  a  year,  leaving  £200  a  year  clear. 

So  much  for  pecuniary  matters.  As  to  your  residence — 
it  is  entirely  at  your  own  choice.  As  for  the  children,  they 
are  left  completely  with  you.  Some  years  hence  I  may 
interfere  about  the  boy's  education  ;  but  time  eno'  to  think 
of  that.  I  now  pass  to  more  household  and  minute  mat- 
ters. It  would  certainly  have  been  better  for  my  character 
and  my  worldly  respectability,  to  have  come  to  Town  and 
discharged  my  servants  myself,  and  then  gone  quietly 
away,  as  for  my  health.  But  I  have  not  the  strength  to  do 
it.  I  cannot  face  my  servants,  nor  bear  their  comments, 
nor  endure  their  presence — the  place  is  hateful  and  loath- 
some to  me.  Will  you,  therefore,  settle  with  Saul,  and 
give  Henry  the  amount  of  his  claims  (I  have  paid  him  in 
advance  £25)?  Henry  will  settle  that,  and  also  Byrne'a 
"wages,  if  you  tell  him  the  sum,  and  the  cook's  (who  imper- 
tinently gave  me  warning),  and  also  all  house  bills  and 


398  Lord  Lyttons  Letters. 

everything  else.  And  I  Avill,  wlien  all  this  is  clear,  give 
you  the  first  quarter  of  your  income  in  advance.  Henry 
could  save  you  all  this  trouble  but  it  is  more  respectable 
and  dignified  in  you  to  do  it  ;  and  in  order  that  I  may  pro- 
vide for  these  expenses,  will  you  send  to  Hammersloy's  as 
soon  as  possible  Mr.  Bentley's  bills.  And  now  I  have  said 
all. 

I  do  not  ask  your  forgiveness,  which  I  Icnoio  you  would 
readily  give,  but  which  would  neither  remove  my  own  sore- 
ness, nor  rais  my  pride.  I  ash  no  forgiveness  from  Human 
Being — such  as  I  am,  I  will  be  to  the  last,  my  own  Judge. 
I  have  been  my  own  accuser  and  my  own  iiunishment.  I 
have  not  one  particle  of  angry  feeling  ag^^  you  ;  all  my  bit- 
terness if  for  myself.  The  only  favor  I  beg  ;  Do  not  write 
to  me,  and  acquiesce  at  once  in  all  I  have  suggested.  Do 
not  write,  for  I  am  not  in  a  mood  to  bear  either  kindness  or 
reproaches — the  first  would  only  humble  me,  and  the  second 
is  unneccessary.  Why  trample  more  upon  a  fallen  man  ? 
I  shall  probably  have  left  this  before,  indeed,  you  could 
answer  this  letter.  And  now,  farewell.  I  wish  you  every 
comfort ;  and  after  tlie  first  nervousness  of  "a  breakup  "  is 
over,  I  know  you  will  find  a  great  relief  in  our  relitive  change 
of  position.  For  six  years  you  have  been  to  me  an  incompar- 
able wife.  That  thought  alone  is  sufficient  to  make  me 
judge  you  leniently  in  the  last  year.  Whether  the  change 
arose  from  too  harsh  a  misconstruction  of  my  faults,  from 
an  enormous  estimate  of  my  character,  from  that  utter 
diifereuce  of  tastes,  habits  and  pursuits,  which  time,  that 
wears  away  all  gloss  and  all  concealment,  made  more 
obvious  and  more  irksome — whatever  be  the  cause  of  the 
change  that  has  taken  place  in  your  affection  and  your 
kindness,  I  make  no  complaint,  I  call  for  no  defence.  Let 
us  both  rest  in  peace. 

E.  L.  BULWER. 


Lord  Lyttons  Letters.  399 

Richmond  July  Uli,  1834. 
Lady  Lytton  writes  : — "  The  *  provocation  '  1  gave  this 
man  was  this  :  upon  his  asking  me  with  whom  I  was  going 
to  the  christening  of  Mr.  Fonblanque's  child  that  night, 
and  I  replying  "  with  Lady  Stepney/^  he  then  repeated  as 
fast  as  he  could,  a  dozen  times  running,  *  my  Mother  calls 
her  that  ugly  old  woman.'  He  then  called  out,  '  Do  you 
hear  me,  Madam  ?'  *  Of  course  I  hear  you.'  *  Then  why 
the — in — don't   you   answer   me  ?'      '  I   did  not  think   it 

required    an    answer,'    'D your    soul,  madam  !'    he 

exclaimed,  seizing  a  carving  knife  (for  we  were  at  dinner, 
and  he  had  told  the  servant  to  leave  the  room  till  he  rang) 
and  rushing  at  me,  cried,  '  I'll  have  you  to  know  that 
whenever  7 do  you  the  honour  of  addressing  you,  it  requires 
an  answer  !'  I  said,  '  For  God's  sake,  take  care  what  you 
are  about,  Edward !'  He  then  dropped  the  knife  and, 
springing  on  me,  made  his  great  teeth  meet  in  my  cheek, 
and  the  blood  spurted  over  me.  The  agony  was  so 
great,  that  my  screams  brought  the  servants  back,  and 
presently  Cresson,  the  cook,  seized  him  by  the  collar  ;  but 
he  broke  from  him,  and  seizing  one  of  the  footman's  hats  in 
the  hall,  rushed  down  Piccadilly.  ''  After  his  sanguinary 
exploit,  he  had  taken  himself  off  to  Richmond.  I,  like  a 
fool,  went  down  to  forgive  him  not  indeed  for  Ids  sake — 
for  I  cordially  despised  him — but  for  that  of  my  then  baby 
children.  Of  course  I  found  every  word  in  this  precious 
ei)istle  was  false  ;  he  had  no  earthly  thought  of  selling 
everything  up  and  going  abroad  ;  he  had  been  boating 
about  the  Thames,  amusing  himself,  and  was  in  treaty  for 
the  purchase  of  Lady  Dysart's  villa.  Many  years  ago,  two 
or  three  after  this  letter  was  written,  I  showed  it  to  Dr. 
Lushington.  Never,  so  long  as  I  live,  shall  I  forget  the 
probing,  searching  expression,  of  tliose  keen  analytic  eyes 
of  his,  as  looking  up  from  the  very  first  page  of  that  letter, 
he  said,  *  This  man  has  been  in  the  habit  of  ill-using  you  ? 


400  Lord  Lyftons  Letters. 

'  "What  makes  jou  think  so  ?'  said  I.  *  Tv/o  circumstances. 
First,  the  great  and  palpably  artful  pains  he  takes  to  con- 
vey tlie  idea  (knowing,  of  course,  such  a  letter  would  be 
read)  that  be  had  put  every  possible  restraint  upon  himself 
— as  if  you  had  been  exasperating  him — he  proves  rather 
too  mucli  there.  The  second  is,  the  equally  artful  pains 
he  takes  to  talk  of  this  outrage  as  a  first  and  solitary  one  ! 
Now  no  man  ever  got  to  such  a  pitch  of  brutality  at  o^ first 
essay  !'  " 

His  next  letter  (Sept.  24th,  1834)  is  directed  to  Glou- 
cester. Lady  Lytton  writes  in  the  end  of  November  from 
there, 

*'  I  have  now  been  here  four  months — alone."  His  last 
letter  to  Gloucester  is  dated  April  4th,  1835,  from  London  ; 
when  Mr.  Bulwer  wrote,  he  expected  his  wife  up  on  Tues- 
day. 

CCLXXXVL 

To  Mrs.  Bulwer,  Montpellier  Place,  Gloster. 
[Proposing,  if  tired  of  Gloucester,  to  visit  Lemington.] 

Lemington,  Sept.  2Uli  1834. 

My  Dear  Rosina, — Your  letter  has  just  been  forwarded 
to  me  from  Birmingham,  where  I  had  ordered  them  to 
direct  my  letters  from  Town.  But  traveling  by  mail,  I 
was  struck  by  this  place  as  I  passed,  and  alighted  here — 
nor  (expecting  no  letters  of  much  importance,  or  much 
amusement)  did  I  send  over  to  Birmingham  for  them  till 
the  day  before  yesterday.  They  came  to-day — and  very 
vexatious  some  of  them  are  !  nHmporte! 

I  am  extremely  sorry,  my  dear  Rosina,  to  hear  you 
have  been  so  seriously  unwell  with  fainting  fits,  and  can- 
not believe  it  is  to  be  the  weather  only,  tho'  it  has  been 
certainly  both  warm  and  moist.  For  my  part,  if  tliere  be 
anything  I  could  do  to  make  you  well,  comfortable  and 


Lord  Lyttons  Letters.  401. 

happy,  it  would  be  one  of  tlie  very  few  enjoyments  I  am 
capable  cf  possessing. 

If  you  grow  tired  of  Gloucester,  pay  this  place  a  visit  ; 
it  is  extremely  pretty,  but  is  also  dull ;  they  have  very  nice 
pony-flies  here,  v/ith  smart  postilions  who  would  enchant 
you  ;  and  that  reminds  me  that,  wherever  you  stay,  I  will 
certainly  send  you  down  a  pony-phaeton  on  my  return  to 
Town.  You  will  find  plenty  of  postilions  at  Gloster  or 
Cheltenham  to  take. 

So  pray  take  care  of  yourself  and  amuse  yourself,  and 
go  and  see  Berkeley  Castle,  and  tell  me  what  sort  of  a 
place  it  is. 

I  have  been  to  sec  Keuilworth,  which  would  just  suit 
me  for  a  house,  tho'  it  has  not  a  room,  being  so  vast,  spa- 
cious and  effective.  It  is  the  largest  ruin  I  ever  saw  in 
England ;  as  to  Warwick  Castle  the  outside  is  superb,  the 
inside  handsome,  but  not  antique  eno' — reminds  me  of  an 
Italian  house. 

You  remember,  perhaps,  a  letter  I  had  from  a  Mr. 
Chandos  Leigh  on  tho  publication  of  ''Paul  Clifford/'  cal- 
ling me  the  first  living  prose-writer  and  God  know  what  ? 
I  went  to  see  his  place,  Stoneleigh  Abby.  It  is  superb.  I 
never  saw  any  Commoner's  place  so  like  a  Prince's. 

If  you  write  to  me,  direct  to  P.  Oflice,  Birmingham, 
where  I  shall  be  in  a  day  or  two.  I  have  been  dreadfully 
harassed  about  my  book,  and  fear  I  shall  lose  the  money  in 
France  and  America,  as  they  have  not  given  me  time  to 
send  over  the  proofs.  There  go  £135.  I  hate  Bentley,  and 
shall  never  deal  with  him  again. 

Pray  write  and  let  me  know  how  you  are. 

Yours  affec^'y* 

E.   BULWER. 

p.  S. — I  have  ordered  Bentley  to  send  you  down 
"  Pompeii "  when  out,  as  it  may  amuse  Miss  Greene.  I 
hope  you  received  the  Court  Journal  ?    I  understood  they 


402  Lord  Lyttojis  Letters. 

forwarded  them  to  you — I  have  not  seen  them  for  some 
weeks  ;  if  they  don't,  write  to  Colburn  to  request  them.  I 
send  you  the  Examiner. 

CCLXXXVII. 

To  Mrs.  Bulwer,  Montpellier  Place,  Gloucester. 

[Review  of  "  Last  Days  of  Pompeii."— Sore  throat  and  cold.] 

Lemington,  Se^t.  'Zmii,  1834. 

My  Dear  Eosina, — I  am  extremely  sorry  to  hear  you 
have  had  so  severe  an  attack,  and  that  your  headaches  still 
pain  you.  You  must  be  greatly  vexed  and  distressed  at 
such  an  account  of  your  Mother,  and  I  am  very  sorry  that 
she  feels  obliged  to  return  to  Miss  Doyle.  I  write  in  haste, 
as  I  am  on  the  point  of  leaving  Lemington,  where  I  have 
been  detained  two  or  three  days  longer  than  I  expected  by 
a  severe  sore  throat  and  cold.  I  can  scarcely  say  what  my 
address  will  be,  but  any  letters  directed  to  Birmingham  will 
be  forwarded.  I  send  you  the  Examiner,  a  County  paper, 
and  the  Lit.  Gazette,  in  the  last  of  which  is  a  review  of 
**  Pompeii'' — a  very  cold  one  and  in  which  the  sjiirit  is 
visible  thro'  the  praise.  It  is  a  strong  contrast  to  tlie 
AtheyicBiim ,  which  for  the  first  time  accords  me  unqualified 
and  most  lavish  eulogia,  and  considers  "Pompeii"  the 
best  of  my  books. 

Miss  Landon  (my  reviewer  in  the  L.  G.)  has  behaved 
very  strangely  to  me,  neither  answering  two  letters  I  wrote 
to  her,  and  breaking  a  positive  jiromis  she  made  me  with 
regard  to  Henry — if  you  should  write,  you  may  hint  at  my 
dissatisfaction. 

I  am  at  daggers  drawn  with  Oilier  and  Bentley,  who 
have  behaved  very  badly,  and  I  cannot  renew  my  request  to 
send  you  and  my  Mother  copies  of  "  Pompeii."  But  you 
(not  being  sppposed  to  know  this  indignation)  can  write  to 


Lord  Lyttons  Letters.  403 

Bentley  requesting  him  to  send  you  a  copy,  and  also  to  my 
Mother,  directed  upper  5  Upper  Seymour  St. 

I  honoured  Miss  Catherine  Halkin  with  a  visit  yester- 
day (on  which  day  I  received  yonr  letter).  The  first  time 
I  called,  I  smelt  roast  ducks  and  heard  she  was  at  dinner  ; 
so  I  called  again  ;  the  old  damsel  was  very  cold  and  stiff, 
and  did  not  seem  much  penetrated  with  my  devoirs.  She 
is  more  like  Miss  Spence  than  ever — can  I  say  anything 
more  spiteful  ? 

Adieu — love  to  the  children  and  comp*^  to  Miss  Greene. 

Affy, 

E.  L.  BULWER. 

CCLXXXVIII. 

To  Mrs.  Bulwer,  Montpellicr  Place,  Gloucester,  England. 

[To  forward  a  letter  to  her  Mother.] 

My  Dear  Rosina,— I  will  thank  you  to  forward  the 
enclosed  to  your  Mother. 

It  is  just  received.     I  have  not  yet  heard  from  you. 

Y"  truly, 

E.  L.  BULWEB. 

Killarney,  Oct.  Uth,  1834. 
My  address  is  Dublin. 

CCLXXXIX. 

To  Mrs.  Bulwer,  Montpellier  Place,  Gloucester. 
[Declines  her  assistance.] 

London,  ^Uh,  Nov.,  1834. 
My  Dear  Rosina, — I  am  very  much  obliged  by  your 
offer  ;  but  you  would  be  of  no  assistance  to  me  ;  and  if  you 
could,  I  am  not  exactly  the  man  to  receive  favours  from 
one  who  in  so  marked  a  manner  has  refused  me  justice. 
Let  that  pass. — 


404  Lord  Lytto7is   Letters. 

All  the  Tories  are  sleek  and  delighted.  They  will  get 
a  quarter's  salery.  No  bad  thing  in  these  hard  times  I  I 
forward  a  letter  from  Miss  Roberts.  Y^ 

E.  L.  B. 

Love  to  the  children. 

CCXC. 
To  Mrs.  Bultver,  2  Montpellier  Place,  Gloucester. 

[His  deafness. — Cockbura.] 

London,  Feby.  16th,  1835. 

My  Dearest  Poodle, — I  am  very  sorry  to  hear  you 
remained  so  unwell  on  Saturday,  but  hope  from  your  letter 
to-day  that  you  had  recovered.  Many  thanks  for  your  see- 
ing the  Doctor  about  the  deafness.  I  was  gonig  to  Maule 
to-day  as  I  suffer  much  and  find  all  society  irksome  from 
my  infirmity.  I  will  take  your  trunk  myself  (as  Anne,  you 
know,  cannot  go  out,  for  she  could  not  let  herself  in  again, 
there  being  no  key  to  the  street  door)  unless  Saul  calls, 
when  I  will  give  it  to  him.  The  parcel  and  the  lampries 
came  very  safe  ;  many  thanks  for  them.  The  lampries  are 
excelent  and  very  seasonable,  as  Bond's  ham  does  not  turn 
out  very  good.  The  waistcoat  and  "kerchief"  arrived 
quite  safe  and  are  bootscst,  the  kerchief  especially  so,  the 
prettiest  of  the  kind  I  ever  saw.  I  send  you  a  little  bill  ; 
is  it  to  you  ?  I  find  new  vexations  with  respect  to  Cock- 
burn  ;  and  know  not  what  to  do.  Heaven  keep  me  from 
all  poor  friends  in  future. 

I  am  glad  the  humming-top  is  in  such  request  and 
makes  so  much  noise.  I  was  afraid  it  would  not  make 
noise  enough  ! !  all  the  pleasure  is  in  the  noise.  Nobody 
talks  of  anything  but  the  speaker.  He  is  the  great  Hum- 
ming-top of  London.  I  received  yesterday  some  verses, 
which  I  send  you,  being  an  Elegy  on  my  death.  The  good 
gentleman  did  not  like  to  lose  so  much  genius,  so  he  sends 


Lo)'d  Ly  I  ion's  Letters.  405 

it  to  me  on  my  recovery.  Will  he  ever  forgive  me  for  liv- 
ing ?  I  also  send  a  County  paper,  partly  because  it  is  full 
of  scraps  of  news,  partly  because  it  contains  a  poem  to  me, 
not  bad  for  a  Provincial  Bard.  I  will  see  about  your  cham- 
pagne to-day  and  the  Port  wine.  Pray  take  care  of  00 
seps,  and  believe  me  ever  oozest 

P.  P. 
Kiss  the  children  for  me.     I  shall  write  Emmy  soon. 

CCXCI. 

To  Mes.  Bulwer,  2,  Montpellier  Place,  Gloucester. 

[Emily's  illness,] 

London,  March  Mh,  1835. 
I  have  just  received  your  letter  which  renders  me  quite 
miserable — not  only  for  Emily's  sake,  poor  dear  child,  but 
for  yours.  You  are  nursing  them.  Good  Heavens  !  what 
danger  you  run  !  For  God's  sake  do  not  hang  over  them  ! 
I  implore,  I  command  you  to  get  a  nurse  instantly,  and 
not  to  sit  up  at  night.  I  am  so  ill  myself  that  I  could  not 
come  down  without  adding  to  the  list  of  the  sick — unable 
to  leave  my  fireside  and  scarcely  my  bed.  But  if  I  do  not 
hear  a  better  account,  or  if  you  fall  unwell  yourself,  I  shall 
come  down  instantly  and  at  all  events.  Therefore  pray 
write  to  me  by  the  next  coach,  saying  how  dearest  Emily 
and  Miss  Greene  are,  and  if  yoti  have  escaped.  I  shall  be 
wretched  till  I  hear — indeed,  the  news  has  completely 
thrown  me  back,  as  I  was  better  last  night.  What  sort  of 
a  Doctor  have  you  !    Pray  write  instantly  and  constantly. 

E.  L.  B. 


4o6  Lord  Lyttons  Letters, 


CCXCII. 

To  Mrs.  Bulwer,  Montpellier  Place,  Gloucester. 

[Expecting  her  up  on  Tuesday.] 

London,  A'pril  Uh,  1835. 
My  Dearest  Darling, — By  this  time  I   trust  your  mind 
is  at  ease  about  de  money  matters.     I  expect  you  on  Tues- 
day,   and   on    Wednesday  you  are  invited  to  Devonshire 
House.     So  00  must  bring  up  oo  best  looks  with  oo. 

OozEST  Everest,  P. 

The  next  lettor  is  dated  from  Paris,  January  18th, 
1836,  to  Mrs.  Bulwer  at  Berrymead  Priory,  Acton,  to 
which  she  had  removed. 

CCXCIII. 

To  Mrs.  Bulwer,  Berrymead  Priory,  Acton,  Middlesex. 

[Proposal  to  forget  tbe  past  and  to  "  try  once  more  "  to  lead  the  old 

life.] 

Paris,  Jany.  18th,  1836. 

Altho'  I  am  convinced  that  if  you  once  made  the  effort, 
you  would  feel  yourself  happier  separated  from  me — altho' 
I  know  too  sadly  that  it  is  in  vain  to  hope  that  you  will 
sacrifice  to  me  the  indulgence  of  my  momentary  feelings 
of  anger,  or  vexation,  or  that  you  will  avoid  perpetually 
and  needlessly  wounding  my  pride  and  my  amour propre — 
altho',  too,  I  feel  assured  that  you  in  your  present  senti- 
ments there  is  neither  affection  nor  esteem  for  me — yet, 
God  knows,  I  do  not  and  cannot  desire  to  occasion  you  the 
anguish  you  seem  to  feel  at  our  parting — from  whatever 
sources  it  arises. 

Remain  then  at  Acton,  and  let  us  forget  the  object  of 


Lord  Lyttons  Letters.  407 

our  late  correspondence  :  we  will  try  once  more.  If  the 
experiment  is  to  succeed,  let  me  entreat  you,  first,  to  have 
some  indulgence  for  my  habits  and  pursuits  ;  secondly,  not 
to  complain  so  often  of  being  a  prisoner,  and  dull  and  so 
forth  ;  and  thirdly,  not  to  think  it  encumbent  upon  you. 
to  say,  or  insinuate,  everything  that  can  gall  or  mortify 
me,  by  way  of  shewing  you  don't  condescend  to  flatter. 
Parliament  will  commence  soon  after  my  return — it  need 
be  no  subject  of  complaint,  or  grievance,  if  I  am  neces- 
sarily absent  some  days  in  the  week,  as  I  was  before.  As 
I  never  wish  to  shackle  your  liberty  or  grudge  you  amuse- 
ment, I  trust  you  will  not  (both  to  me  and  to  others)  call 
it  a  crime  in  me  to  attend,  in  the  one  case  to  a  toilsome 
career,  or,  in  the  other,  to  seek  occasionally  something 
like  a  holyday  of  relaxation.  I  have  now  done  with  this 
subject.     Let  us  not  renew  it. 

Pray  take  care  of  yourself,  and  do  not  neglect  medical 
advice.  Get  well  as  soon  as  you  can,  and  do  have  horses 
to  enjoy  a  little  change  of  air.  I  shall  be  in  Town  in,  I 
think,  about  a  fortnight. 

Y", 

E.  L.  B. 

The  next  letter  is  important  for  explaining  the  imme- 
diate cause  of  separation.  Mr.  Bulwer  had  jnomised  to 
dine  with  his  wife  at  Borrymead  ;  at  nine  o'clock  a  man  on 
horseback  anived,  with  a  message  to  the  eli'cct  that  he  was 
too  ill  to  come.  Mrs,  Bulwer  immediately  sent  for  a  car- 
riage, and,  bringing  what  she  thought  necessary  for  an 
invalid,  arrived  at  eleven  o'clock  at  his  chambers  at  the 
Albany,  and  after  long  ringing,  at  last  he  opened  the  door, 
etc.,  etc. 


4o8  Lord  Lyttotis  Letters, 


CCXCIV. 

[Indignation  at  her  visit  to  his  chambers.] 

Madam, — Your  conduct  requires  no  comment,  your 
letter  deserves  no  answer — you  come  to  my  chambers — ring 
violently — my  sole  servant  is  out  (I  am  not  in  the  habit  of 
opening  my  own  door) — I  go  at  last — ill  and  worn  out — 
see  you  to  my  surprise — you  recur  to  your  most  base, 
unworthy  and  most  ungrateful  suspicions  on  seeing  two 
tea-cups  on  my  tray  !  !  ! — make  a  scene  before  your  foot- 
man and  the  porters  of  the  Lodge,  and  expose  me  and 
yourself  to  the  ridicule  of  the  Town.  And  this  is  the 
History  of  your  Adventures  !  I  have  only  to  say  at  pres- 
ent, that  it  furnishes  another  to  the  unwarrantable  and 
unpardonable  insults  and  injuries  you  have  so  unsparingly 
heaped  on  your  husband. 

E.  B. 
CCXCV. 
[Demands  an  apology.] 

Madam, — The  more  I  consider  your  conduct,  and  your 
letter,  the  more  unwarrantable  they  appear — every  hope  I 
endeavour  to  form  of  an  easy  and  tranquil  life,  is  perpet- 
ually shattered  by  these  sudden  and  unaccountable  bursts 
of  passion.  I  have  neither  health  nor  spirits — nor  I  must 
add  the  inclination — to  submit  myself  to  violent  and  unjust 
language,  to  scenes  without  a  cause,  to  insults  without  a 
provocation.  You  will,  therefore,  excuse  my  presence, 
until  you  either  condescend  to  explain  to  me  the  cause  of 
your  attacks,  or  until  I  receive  those  expressions  of  apology 
and  regret  which  are  my  due.  Forget,  if  you  please,  what 
duty  and  gratitude  should  suggest  towards  a  generous  and  for- 
bearing Husband,  whose  whole  youth  has  been  to  you  one  un- 


Lord  Lyttons   Letters.  409 

requited  saci-ifice.  But  I  insist  upon  receiving  tliat  courtesy 
and  respect  which  a  man  without  stain  and  without  reproach 
has  a  right  to  expect  from  every  human  being,  even  from 
those  who  injure  him  too  deeply  even  to  pardon  him  the 
benefits  he  has  conferred  upon  them. 

E.  B. 
COXOVI. 

[Letter  ceasing  correspondence.] 

In  reply  to  your  letter,  I  beg  shortly  to  state,  that  it  ia 
my  wish  and  intention,  to  leave  you  to  perfect  repose,  and 
that  I  shall  not  notice  any  gossip  or  calumny  against  myself, 
nnless  distinctly  traced  to  the  promulgator.  No  one 
therefore  need  fear  the  consequences,  who  does  not  spread 
the  falsehood.  You  know  whether  you  have  said,  or 
desired  others  to  say,  for  instance,  whether  you  found  a 
shawl  in  my  rooms  ?  But  the  past  is  past — I  only  desire  to 
guard  against  i\\Q,  future.  Your  character  is  perfectly  safe, 
unless  you  vilify  that  of  others. 

With  this  letter  ceases  our  correspondence  on  this  head. 

E.  L.  B. 
COXCVII. 

To    Mrs.   E.    L.    Bulwer,    Berrymead    Priory,    Acton, 
Middlesex. 

[Suggestion  for  stating  cause  of  separation.] 

Marcli  22nd,  1836. 
In  reply  to  your  letter,  I  beg  to  say  that  Mr.  Loaden 
rid  not  have,  in  any  way,  my  authority  for  the  statement 
referred  to  by  you,  that  I  immediately  went  to  him,  and 
have  I  trust  effectually  prevented  any  recurrence  of  it.  But 
of  the  truth  of  that  suspicion  you  must  be  the  best  judge. 
I  have  at  this  moment  in  my  possession  the  original  letters 
io  the  Court  Jmirnal,  one  of  which  was  to  have  appeared 
yesterdiiy.     A  paragraph  in  the  same  paper  appeared  before 


4io  Lord  Lyttons  Letters. 

any  separation  betn^een  us,  accusing  me  of  going  to  Paris, 
to  enjoy  the  gaieties  of  tlio  season,  -vrbile  you  were  "■  danger- 
ously ill"  at  Acton,  The  hand-writing  of  the  authoring 
of  this  paragraph  I  know.  I  have  no  disposition  to  prose- 
cute this  matter,  or  divulge  my  own  opinion.  You  are 
now  with  Mrs.  Wyndham  Lewis;  you  will  judge  yourself 
whether  you  wish  or  authorize  her  to  state  that  the  cause 
of  our  separation  is  your  having  made  any  discovery  in  my 
rooms  :  if  it  is  not  your  wish,  you  can,  if  you  please, 
prevent  her  making  such  a  declaration.  If  I  am  to  place 
the  cause  on  the  general  ground  of  incompatibility  of  tem- 
per, which  is  the  most  favourable  ground  for  yourself,  you 
must  be  sensible  that  I  have  a  right  to  expect  failh,  and 
honour  in  that  announcement,  and  that  no  other  cliarge, 
no  other  insinuation  of  any  description,  should  be  made 
against  me.  I  do  not  ash  that  this  should  be  observed  by 
your  friends,  and  yourself  :  but  if  it  is  not,  I  shall  be  com- 
pelled to  put  the  counter  statement  in  other  hands  than  my 
own.  I  say  nothing  of  former  transactions,  of  Mrs.  W. 
Lewis's  conversations  with  Dr.  Maginn,  whom  she  knew 
to  be  the  principle  writer  in  the  Age,  and  Frazer's  Magazine. 
I  say  nothing  also  of  your  recent  affront  to  my  Mother. 
This  can  hurt  no  one  but  yourself. 

E.  L.  BUWLEE, 

Tliursday  Evg.  8  o'doch. 

CCXCVIIL      AxD  Last. 

[Determination  not  to  live  with  her  again,  stated  with  view  to  the 
letter  being  read  by  others.] 

Undated. 

It  is  neither  my  intention,  nor  is  it  necessary,  to  open 

past  sores  or  recapitulate  past  grievances  :  utter  and  liopc- 

less  incompatibility  of  temper,  views,  and  opinions,  proved 

more  and  more  strongly  with  every  renewed  attempt  at 


Lord  Lyttons  Letters.  411 

domestic  intercourse,  is  sufficient  to  account  for  n,  resolution 
for  which  you  have  been  so  long  prepared.  Your  last 
proceedings  towards  mc, — indecorous,  unwomanly  and 
thoroughly  unprovoked  and  groundless — are  nothing  in 
themselves,  compared  with  what  I  have  borne  for  three 
years.  But  they  are  the  last  drop,  and  the  cup  overflows, 
Looking,  on  one  side,  to  all  the  circumstances  of  our 
marriage,  to  all  the  sacrifices  I  then  made,  to  all  the 
indulgence  I  have  since  shewn  you,  to  the  foolish  weakncfS 
with  which,  when  insufferably  provoked,  I  have  time  after 
time  yielded  to  promises  of  amendment  never  fulfilled  ;  and 
looking,  on  the  other  side,  to  your  repeated  affronts  and 
insults — some  private,  some  public — your  habitual  contempt 
of  the  respect  due  to  me,  your  violent  language,  uncertain 
caprices,  yonr  own  Journal  (I  conclude  a  fair  transcript 
of  your  thoughts)  correspondent  with  your  letters  and 
words  and  filled  with  the  most  injurious  aspersions  of  me 
and  mine — my  relations,  who  ought  to  be  as  sacred  to  you 
as  to  me,  the  eternal  subject  of  gross,  and  dishonoring 
vituperation — all  this  placed  on  your  side  the  balance, 
leaves  nothing  in  my  mind  but  such  deep  and  permanent 
impressions  of  the  past,  as  to  enforce  a  calm  and  stern 
determination  as  to  tlie  future. 

On  no  consideration  whatever  will  I  live  with  you 
again.  To  my  lawyer,  Mr.  Loaden,  who  has  received  my 
instructions,  and  to  Sir  F.  Doyle  (the  one  of  your  rela- 
tions in  whom  you  mostly  place  the  greatest  confidence), 
I  leave  all  details  of  business  rt-lative  to  your  income,  our 
children,  etc.  Thro'  them  alone  can  any  communication 
between  us  relative  to  those  points  be  carried  on.  It  is  not 
from  any  desire  to  offer  you  affront  that  I  firmly  declare, 
that  until  our  separation  is  finally  accomplished,  I  can 
receive  no  letters  from  you,  but,  if  sent,  shall  return  them 
unopened.  This  is  a  necessary  consequence  of  my 
UNALTERABLE   determination  :    and    I   cannot  acrain 


412  Lord  Lyttoiis  Letters. 

and  in  vain  suffer  my  feelings  to  be  wrung,  my  heart 
liarassod,  even  my  pride  wounded,  by  delusive  concessions 
or  unjust  reproaches.  In  order  to  meet  the  necessary 
arrangements,  and  provide  you  with  the  necessary  means,  it 
■will  be  desirable  that  you  should  quit  a  residence,  of  the 
dullness  of  which,  you  have  so  bitterly  complained,  as  soon 
as  possible.  And  this  both  common  delicacy  and  common 
sense  will  urge  upon  you.  What  must  now  be  done,  ouglit 
to  be  done  quickly.  And  if  any  trace  of  good  feeling 
towards  me  remain  in  your  breast,  ^'ou  will  (while  in 
separation  I  shall  seek  to  provide  for  your  comfort  and 
independence)  interpose  no  wanton  delay  or  obstacle,  in 
according  me  a  release,  upon  wbich  alone  rest  my  hopes  of 
preserving  what  yet  remains  to  me  of  peace  and  health. 
When  our  separation  is  properly  concluded,  I  shall  at  all 
times  be  happy  to  receive,  and  to  pay  the  greatest  rcpect 
to,  any  suggestions  relative  to  your  plans  and  wishes. 
Permit  me,  meanwhile,  not  to  appeal  in  vain  to  your  pride, 
your  honour  and  to  some  just  considerations  that,  as  you 
fail  in  rendering  me  happy,  it  is  scarcely  necessary  to  insist 
on  rendering  me  miserable.  Mr,  Loaden  has  my  orders  to 
pay  yon  any  sum  required,  to  settle  all  bills  at  Acton,  and 
especially  those  due  to  your  own  tradesmen,  such  as 
milliners,  etc.  And  Sir  F.  Doyle  will  inform  you,  that 
you  will  have  proper  means  for  going  to  any  place  of 
residence  you  may  select,  to  all  more  cumbersome  articles 
of  furniture,  plate,  linen,  etc,  can  be  sent.  I  am  now 
leaving  London,  and  shall  not  return  till  the  matter  is 
concluded  and  I  can  discharge  the  establishment  at  Acton. 
In  conclusion,  I  repeat  that  it  will  save  us  both  much 
pain  to  remember,  that  all  attempt  to  shake  my  resolution 
is  now  utterly  vain  and  fruitless. 

Your  Husband, 

E.  L.  BULWER. 


Lord  Lytlons  Letters.  413 

The  following  three  letters  (copies  of  which  have  been 
preserved)  will  further  explain  the  painful  circumstances 
already  referred  to  ;  the  reader  must  judge  for  himself  of 
their  weight  in  contradiction  of  the  very  different  state- 
ments to  which  they  are  opposed. 


Copy  of  a  Letter  in  Mrs.  Bulwer's  Handwriting,  from 
Gloucester. 

[The  wife's  appeal.] 

About  the  end  of  Nov.  1834. 

To  say  that  your  letter  of  this  morning  has  wounded, 
galled,  lacerated  me  to  the  quick,  is  to  say  nothing  ;  but  as 
I  can  only  look  upon  it  as  the  will  of  God  that  I  should  be 
so  treated,  persecuted  and  afBicted,  I  shall  endeavour  to 
humble  myself  to  "  His  will,"  and  bear  it  as  I  ought — not 
indeed,  without  at  first,  I  fear,  great  repining,  but  even- 
tually,   I  hope,  submitting  patiently.     If  what  you  have 

been  told  about  Mrs.  S and  Mrs.  W be  true,  I  am 

certainly  a  very  unfortunate  person,  and  might  claim  pity, 
even  from  my  Husband  ;  but  having  met  them  both  in 
very  respectable,  tho'  second-rate  houses,  I  could  not  even 
have  formed  a  suspicion  of  their  impropriety,  but  I  am 
peculiarly  unhappy  in  my  female  acquaintance,  for  since  I 
have  returned  to  England,  I  have  often  been  asked  "  How 
I  could  possibly  have  travelled  to  Paris  with  such  a  woman 
as  Mrs.  R.  S ?" 

My  answer  to  your  questions  about  my  having  acquainted 

Lady   S ,  or  Mrs.  W.  L with  our  separation,   I 

solemnly  assure  you,  or  if  you  prefer  it  swear  to  you,  that 
I  never  have  ;  the  only  two  letters  I  have  written  to  Lady 

S since  I  have  been  here,  were  written  in  a  gay  strain, 

about  herself,  her  books,  and  her  acquaintance ;  tlie  only 

one  I  have  written  to  Mrs.  W.  L was  in  answer  to  one 

of  hers,  ment  to  be  very  kind,  telling  me  she  had  heard  I 


414  Lord  Lyttons  Letters, 

was  unhappy,  and  that  was  the  reason  she  wrote — in  reply 
I  said  that  I  had  indeed  been  very  unhappy  at  my  poor 
dear  Uncle's  death  ;  the  rest  of  the  letter  was  all  about  my 
domestic  enjoyment  with  my  children  and  praises  of  Miss 
Greene — which  was  a  quietus,  for  I  have  never  heard  from 
her  since  ;  nor  am  I  likely  to  do  so,  for,  previous  to  my 
leaving  Town,  I  thought  she  had  behaved  very  unkindly 
to  me,  tho*  you  did  tell  me,  coming  home  from  L^  Hert- 
ford's last  ball,  "that  you   thought  I  had  behaved  d d 

ungratefully  to  her/'  which  I  was  not  only  hurt,  but  sur- 
prised at,  considering  you  had  so  often  expressed  a  dislike 
to  my  associating  with  her.  For  the  rest,  not  even  to  your 
Mother  (as  you  seem  to  dislike  her  knowing  anything  quite 
as  much  as  any  one  else)  have  I  hinted  at  our  separation  in 
my  letters,  and  so  tenacious  have  I  been  of  appearances  on 
that  subject,  that  I  got  your  pam])hlet  the  moment  it  was 
published,  that  people  might  think  you  had  sent  it  to  me, 
and  lent  it  to  all  influential  ^^eople  hero  ;  and  all  the  politi- 
cal news  I  heard,  I  said  Avas  from  you.  When  I  thought 
there  would  be  a  dissolution,  I  wrote  to  you  from  my  heart, 
wishing  to  serve  you  ;  but  you  never  condescended  to 
answer  my  letter,  which  I  concluded  arose  from  the  usual 
reasons,  of  your  being  busy  and  not  requiring  the  services  I 
offered.  As  to  reports,  they  are  nasty  things ;  they  will 
get  about,  if  there  is  only  a  shadow  for  their  foundation. 

The  night  you  bit  my  cheek,  Liuly  S called  in  an  hour 

afterwards,  to  take  us  to  Mr.   F 's.     I  was  out — God 

knows  what  she  may  have  heard — perhaps  the  truth  ! 
Edward  Bulwer,  it  might  have  been  worse — you  had  your 
hand  upon  the  carving-knife — you  brandished  it  at  me — 
and  if,  instead  of  lacerating  my  cheek,  you  had  cut  my 
throat,  and  in  your  turn  forfeited  your  life  to  the  laws  of 
3'our  country,  you  could  hardly  call  that  a  calumny,  or 
accuse  me  of  having  "  grossly  injured  you." 

Now  if  3'ou  forget  all  this,  I  candidly  tell  you  I  have 


Loj'd  Lyttons   Letters.  4 1 5 

kept  all  your  letters,  in  which  you  will  scarcely  liave 
calumniated  yourself — Edward  !  Edward  !  put  your  hand 
upon  your  heart,  look  at  home,  be  above  the  meanness  of 
infallibility,  and  acknowledge  to  yourself  (I  ask  you  not  to 
do  it  to  7ne)  that  for  the  last  year  and  a  half,  ever  since 
that  business  about  Mr.  Mildmaj^,  you  have  not  acted 
kindly,  justly,  humanely  by  me.  Do  this — and  to-morrow 
I  will  go  back  to  you,  and  devote  my  life  to  making 
yours  happy,  and  refuting,  or  rather  annihilating,  every 
report  that  may  have  arisen  about  us.  If  you  would  but 
judge  yourself  with  just  judgment,  you  would  feel  that 
you  did  owe  me  (even  by  your  own  shewing)  some  repara- 
tion ;  you  say  in  one  of  your  letters  that  "  for  six  years  and 
a  half  I  have  been  an  incomparable  wife  to  you."  I  only 
know  that,  had  life  de})ended  on  it,  I  could  not  have 
studied  every  thought,  wish  and  even  caprice  of  yours  more 
than  I  did  ;  and  my  reward  has  been  personal  ill  usage, 
unkind  words,  neglect,  shaUered  health,  and  a  broken 
heart ;  upon  which,  for  your  respectability's  sake,  I  have 
always  put  a  smiling  appearance.  I  have  now  been  four 
months  at  Gloucester  by  myself,  and  will  venture  to  say 
that,  through  me  and  my  friend,  your  private  character 
stands  as  high  here  as  your  public  one  does  everywhere. 

As  for  me,  it  has  been  my  fate  through  life  to  suffer 
from  the  conduct  of  others,  not  from  my  own ;  but  there  is 
this  consolation,  that  even  in  this  world  we  cannot  event- 
ually j^/'m/?/  stand,  or  loholly  fall  but  by  our  oiun  conduct 
alone;  others  may,  and  do  for  a  time,  gild  or  tarnish  it, 
but  the  reality  depends  upon  ourselves  solely.     And  now 

about  appealing  to  F.  D .     Surely,  surely,  you  do  not 

for  a  moment  suppose  my  relutance  to  do  so  arose  merely 
from  the  fear  of  troubling  him,  or  with  the  slightest 
reference  to  myself !  In  doing  so,  I  thought  of  you,  and 
you  only. 

I  am  ready  and  willing  to  do  so  immediately,  if  it  is 


41 6  Lord  Lyttons  Letters. 

still  your  wish.  You  aske  me  to  give  yoa  an  accuittal. 
The  fullest,  the  most  unquestionable,  aud  above  all  the 
most  beneficial  to  you  would  be  my  returning  to  live  with, 
to  love  you  (if  you  will  let  me)  and  to  serve  you  in  any  and 
every  way  I  can — this,  I  am  willing  to  do  ;  but  a  written 
acquittal  I  could  not  give  you,  witliout  branding  all  we 
have  hoth  written  with  falsehood,  which  must  invalidate 
anything  I  conld  say,  not  only  in  our  own  eyes,  but  those 
of  the  world. 

I  have  only  to  add  that  not  even  to  Muma,  who  has 
written  several  times  to  know  how  long  I  meant  to  remain 
at  Gloucester,  have  I  said  a  word  of  our  separation. 

God  bless,  guide  and  forgive  you  as  entirely  as  I  do  ! 

R.  L.  B, 

I  am  very  glad  to  hear  by  a  letter  I  have  just  got  from 
Mamma,  that  you  are  looking  better  and  stronger  than  she 
saw. 

(True  Copy.) 

Copy  Of  A  Letter  From  Mrs.  Bulwer  to  her  Husband,  In 
Her  Own  Handwriting. 

[Left  her  no  earthly  hope. — Her  seven  years'  forbearance.] 

Gloucester,  December  \Uli,  1834. 

When  you  wrote  to  mo  demanding  an  acquittal  of  cal- 
umnies that  had  been  set  afloat  about  you,  you  did  not 
specify  lohat  those  calumnies  were  ;  therefore  how  could  I 
refute  them  ? 

Now  that  you  have  told  me  the  infamous  reports  about 

Mrs.  S •  and  her  husband,  of  course  I  can  deny  them  in 

the  soleranest  manner,  and  by  telling  the  exact  truth, 
most  fully  clear  you  from  so  base,  so  groundless,  so  black  a 

slander.     My  acquaintance  with  Mrs.   S originated  in 

her  having  found  my  reticule,  with  my  card-case  in  it,  in  a 


Lord  Ly lions    Letters.  417 

shop,  and  bringing  it  to  nie.     A  short  time  after  I  met  her 

at  a  party  at  Mrs.  D s.     She  got  introduced  to  me.     I 

thanked  her  for  my  bag;  the  next  day  she  called;  I  saw 
Fhe  was  dreadfully  vulgar,  but  did  not  think  that  a  suffic- 
ient reason  for  hurting  her  feelings,  and  after  many  press- 
ing invitations  went  out  to  drive  with  her.  You  expressed 
a  great  dislike  to  my  knowing  her  (as  to  do  you  justice  you 
did,  to  my  knowing  every  one  with  whom  I  am  acquainted) 
on  the  score  of  her  vulgarity,  which  was  of  course  the  only 
thing  you  then  knew  against  her,  any  more  than  myself. 
You  afterwards  went  with  me  to  a  ball  at  her  house,  and 
there  ended  the  acquaintance. 

I  also  here  most  fully  acquit  you  of  being  dishonoura- 
ble an  ungentlemanlike,  as  ill-treating  a  wife  is,  I  believe, 
considered  neither.  As  for  what  you  are  pleased  to  term 
my  "domestic  treacliery^'  in  keeping  your  letters,  I  have 
been  guilty  of  equal  treachery  to  myself,  as  I  keep  copies 
of  all  my  own  that  I  write  to  you,  for  should  I  at  any  time 
misstate  to  you  anything  I  may  have  formerly  said,  and  I 
keep  yours  as,  from  having  so  many  things  to  think  of, 
you  are  apt  to  forget,  and  consequently  to  deny,  things 
and  promises  you  have  made  me  ;  there  are  many  instances 
of  this  sort  of  memory ;  you  recollect  the  Emperor 
Claudius  after  he  had  ordered  his  wife  to  be  murdered  ! 
Having  quite  forgotten  the  trifling  circumstance,  he  next 
day  sent  an  angry  message  to  know  the  meaning  of  her 
disrespect  to  him  in  not  appearing  at  Dinner.  So  upon 
the  whole  it  was  lucky  tiie  Headsman  had  the  Imperial 
warrant  to  produce;  and  as  I  stand  in  the  double  capacity 
of  wife  and  executor  of  your  commands,  it  is  doubly 
necessary  for  me  to  retain  the  proofs  of  my  vindication. 
You  say  "it  would  have  been  better,  if  I  had  pursued  a 
softer  and  more  forbearing  conduct,  and  a  generous 
silence,"  it  was  finding  that  a  severe  pursuance  of  this  for- 
bearance, this  softnes?,  this  silence  had  failed,  that  induced 


41 8  Lord  Lyttons  Letters. 

me  as  a  forlorn  hope  to  appeal  to  your  justice,  your  heart, 
your  compassion — in  so  doing  I  appealed  to  what  does  not 
exist.  No  wonder,  then,  that  nothing  has  been  the  result. 
You  say  that  "no  one  has  judged  you  so  unfavourably  as 
me."  I  believe  it  :  in  this  country  Polygamy  is  not 
allowed.  Who  for  seven  years  has  lavished  on  you  the 
care,  the  consideration,  the  early  and  late  attention  to  your 
wants,  wishes,  fame  and  well-being,  in  great  things  and  in 
small,  that  I  iiave  ?  And  who  in  return  has  received  from 
you  ill-treatment,  ingratitude,  injuries  and  contempt  ? 
Unfortunately  there  are  reciprocal  duties  in  all  our  rela- 
tionships of  life,  and  however  individuals  concerned  may 
dispense  with  the  share  due  them,  t/ie  world  in  its  judg- 
ment of  facts  will  not  do  so  ; — it  would  certainly  be  much 
more  agreeable,  and  give  us  more  room  for  gratitude,  if 
every  servant  in  our  house  would  do  the  work  of  two,  with- 
out either  food  or  wages,  and  bear  a  great  deal  of  ill-treat- 
ment beside  ;  but  it  would  be  hardly  reasonable  to  expect 
that  they  should. 

You  have  now  left  me  no  earthly  hope  of  redress,  but 
from  the  laws  of  the  land.  Fatherless,  brotherless,  almost 
relationless,  your  conduct  has  not  perhaps  been  the  most 
generous  and  higli-mindcd  in  the  world  ;  but  let  that  pass. 
It  is  true  I  have  few  influential  earthly  friends  ;  but  with 
God  and  justice  on  my  side,  there  is  still  hope,  and  may  be 
redress,  even  for  me. 

From  Mrs.  Bulwer  to  Edward  Lytton  Bulwer. 

[Her  forgiveness. — His  Banker's  Account.] 

Undated,  but  probably 

written  in  April  1836. 

I   thank  you  for  your  letter  and   :im  son-y   that  poor 

Mary's  zeal  and  kind  feelings  for  me  should  have  offended 

you,  but  be  not  angry  that  I  have  one  friend  on  earth  ;  it 


Lord  Lyttons  Letters.  419 

is  not  long  that  I  shall  want  even  that  one.  For  the  rest, 
I  do  not  wish  to  have  blame  imputed  to  any  one — that  is 
solely  due  to  me. 

Upon  the  first  intimation  of  your  casting  me  off,  I  did 
say  I  would  not  take  lesss  than  £600  a  year,  for  that  I 
could  not  support  and  educate  my  children  upon  a  smaller 
sum.  I  fvlt  bitterly  too  at  the  time,  us  I  had  seen  your 
banker's  account,  by  which  it  appeared  I  had  had  £180  in 
eight  months,  and  in  six  you  had  spent  2000,  some  hun- 
dred and  odd  pounds,  and  that,  without  appearing  to  have 
paid  any  heavy  debts.  But  these  and  every  other  feeling 
of  resentment  have,  thank  God,  now  subsided,  and  I  sol- 
emnly assure  you,  so  far  from  now  wishing  to  tax  your 
luxury,  of  getting  rid  of  nie  at  so  dear  a  rate  as  the  sacri- 
fice of  half  your  tangible  income,  I  would  not,  were  my 
poor  little  unhappy  cMldren  out  of  the  question,  under  any 
persuasion  take  more  than  £200  a  year  from  you — as  it  is, 
I  beg  explicitly  to  state  that  no  illness,  no  want,  no  priva- 
tion, shall  ever  induce  mc  to  accept  one  farthing  from  you 
beyond  the  stipulated  £500 — ifl  live,  I  can  make  more. 

And  now,  do  not,  I  implore  you,  attribute  to  vindictive 
or  unforgiving  feelings  my  unalterable  determination  of 
never  again  "  cursing  your  existence  with  my  presence." 
Upon  reflection,  you  must  feel  convinced  that  without  any 
feeling  of  resentment  no  woman  of  common  delicacy,  no 
woman  of  the  most  latent  and  dormant  pride  could,  when 
once  publicly  expelled  from  her  husband's  house,  ever 
UNDER  ANY  CIRCUMSTANCES  think  of  returning  to 
it,  especially  when  that  Husband  had  spoken  of  her  to  a 
third  person  in  the  terms  you  have  of  me — for  which,  how- 
ever, I  most  freely  and  sincerely  forgive  you. 

I  do  not  contemplate  the  possibility  of  being  able  to 
leave  this  before  Midsummer,  as  house  keeping  being  out 
of  the  question,  it  will  not  be  so  easy  to  find  the  sort  of 
thing  I  want.     I  hope  you  have  let  this  place  for  a  great 


420  Lord  Lyttons   Letters. 

deal  more  than  you  give  for  it,  as  the  house,  which  had 
not  a  door  or  window  that  would  shut,  is  now  in  good 
repair,  and  the  garden,  that  was  knee-deep  in  weeds  when 
I  came  here,  and  destitute  of  even  a  potato,  is  now  in  per- 
fect order  and  thoroughly  stocked  with  everything. 

And  now,  once  for  all,  may  God  bless  you  and  prosper 
you  !  May  those  new  ties,  which  make  it  indispensable  for 
you  to  part  with  me,  be  to  you  all  that  I  have  failed  to  be  ! 
May  your  friends  be  as  zealous  in  promoting  your  interests 
and  your  comforts  as  I  tried  to  be,  and  may  they  have 
none  of  the  irritability  of  temper  and  easily  wounded  feel- 
ings, which  in  me  destroyed  and  cancelled  all  my  best 
intentions — in  short  may  you  henceforth  be  as  happy  as  I 
have  made  you  the  reverse — is  the  sincere  hope  and  will  be 
the  constant  prayer  of  her  who  was  your  wife. 

KOSINA  LTTTOIf  BULWEB. 

Berrymead  Priory,  Acton. 

The  Deed  of  Separation  which  allowed  Mrs.  Bulwer 
£400  a  year  for  Mr.  Bulwer's  life  only  and  £50  a  year  each 
for  the  two  children  as  long  as  he  permitted  them  to 
remain  with  their  mother,  is  dated  19^^  April,  1836  ;  and 
on  the  14'**  of  June,  1836,  she  with  her  children  quitted 
Berrymead,  her  husband's  home,  forever. 


CONCLUSION. 


The  foregoing  letters,  it  is  believed,  would  alone  enable 
a  candid  reader  to  follow  the  narrative  they  disclose  of  a 
8ad  and  blighted  life,  without  any  additional  aid  ;  indeed, 
they  speak  so  eloquently  and  precisely  that  I  have  not  con- 
sidered it  advisable  to  add  to  their  force  by  any  remarks  of 
my  own,  but  have  simply  collected  from  the  "Autobi- 
ography," and  other  authorities  in  my  possession,  sufficient 
additional  information  to  supply  the  required  connection 
of  its  several  parts  as  they  follow  in  their  proper  order. 
At  the  same  time,  I  must  admit  that  such  limitation  has 
only  been  effected  through  the  exercise  of  considerable 
restraint,  since  the  materials  before  me  gave  an  oppor- 
tunity for  showing  how  abundantly  the  details  of  the  long- 
suffering  of  this  much-wronged  woman  might  have  extended. 
Now,  however,  when  the  grave  has  closed  on  both  the 
husband  and  the  wife,  I  have  considered  it  more  advisable 
to  avoid  all  notice  that  would  appear  of  a  recriminative 
nature,  or  that  would  give  unnecessary  pain  to  other?, 
beyond  the  inevitable  reproach  which  the  reading  of  these 
letters  must  entail.  Nor  do  I  forget  that  the  special  object 
I  have  in  view  is  to  obtain  justice  for  the  memory  of  my 
deceased  friend,  and  to  disabuse  the  readers  of  the  '*  Bio- 
graphy" of  the  late  Lord  Lytton,"  which  not  only  presents 
a  portrait  ludicrously  distorted  through  joint  efforts  of 
father  and  son  for  what  appear  to  be  identical  objects,  but 
also  exhibits  a  manifest  intention  for  disparagement  of  Lady 


422  Conclusion. 

Lytton  cither  by  direct  misstatement  or  masked  under  an 
apparently  plausible  reticence,  which  can  scarcely  be 
reconciled  with  the  title  under  which  the  author  has 
addressed  her  as  the  "  Pearl  of  Mothers.'^  There  remains 
little  for  me  to  add,  except  such  few  elucidatory  remarks 
as  shall  assist  the  connection  of  its  parts  and  give  the 
sequel  to  the  sad  story. 

1.  Miss  Wheeler  had  from  childhood  been  brought  up 
by  her  much  loved  and  greatly  respected  uncle.  Sir  JoIitl 
Doyle,  the  Governor  of  Guernsey. 

2.  Mr.  Bulwer  settled  £1U00  on  Miss  Wheeler  before 
marriage  ;  this  barred  dower,  and  prevented  her  deriving 
any  advantage  from  her  husband's  succession  to  the  Kneb- 
worth  Estates  ;  he  afterwards  induced  liis  brother,  William 
Bulwer,  when  sole  surviving  trustee,  to  give  up  this  £1000 
to  him. 

3.  The  Deed  of  Separation,  dated  19th  April,  1836, 
stipulated  that  Mr.  Bulwer  should  pay  to  his  wife  £400  a 
year  during  his  own  life  only,  also  a  further  £50  a  year  for 
each  of  the  two  children,  as  long  as  he  permitted  her  to 
have  the  charge  of  them. 

4.  When  Lady  Lytton  returned  from  Ireland  in  1838, 
her  children  were  taken  away  from  her,  and  placed  in  the 
charge  of  Miss  Greene  ;  the  solicitor  writing  that  Sir  Ed- 
Avard,  witli  his  usual  kind  consideration  for  her  feelings, 
would  alow  her  to  see  them  once  a  month  for  half  an  hour, 
witli  Miss  Greene  in  the  room,  but  never  alone.  The  son 
was  at  this  time  (1838)  about  7  years  old,  and  except  for 
about  four  months,  subsequent  to  his  mother  leaving  the 
mad  house  iu  1858 — when  he  induced  her  to  go  abroad — all 
personal  intercourse  may  be  said  to  have  terminated,  the 
daughter,  age  about  ten  years,  was  permitted  the  like 
restricted  communication  with  her  mother  that  was  pro- 
\ided  by  the  father's  "kind  consideration." 

She  died  in  1848,  under  circumstances  that  will  be  best 


Conclusion,  423 

described  in  the  words  of  an  eye-witness.     (Vide  Appendix, 
pp.  ^\^  et  seg.) 

5.  Mrs.  Bulwer's  property  in  Ireland,  which  had  given 
her  husband  his  qualification  for  his  first  seat  in  Parliament, 
was  sold  prior  to  their  separation  for  £3,774  17s. 

6.  In  consequence  of  debts  incurred  in  connection  Tvitli 
changes  of  residence  and  through  lawsuits  for  libel  against 
Henry  Bulwer  in  Paris  (1840)  and  Geneva,  Lady  Lyttoa 
became  much  embarrassed,  and,  her  annuity  being  as  usual 
greatly  in  arrear,  she  suddenly  determined  to  go  to  Hert- 
ford and  confront  her  husband  on  the  hustings  at  the  elec- 
tion of  June  8th,  1858,  as  the  only  means,  in  her  opinion, 
for  obtaining  throngli  such  publicity  the  redress  she 
sought. 

7.  On  June  22nd,  in  the  same  year,  she  was  put  into  a 
private  mad  house  on  the  usual  formal  information,  by  a 
legal  process  which  has  since  been  fully  exposed,  and  will 
no  doubt  be  soon  amended  through  the  influence  of  public 
indignation,  and  which  even  then  was  sufficiently  powerful 
to  procure  her  release  after  three  weeks'  detention. 

There  is  sufficient  evidence  to  show  how  Sir  Edward 
dreiided  tlie  consequences  of  this  outrage,  and  how  Lady 
Lytton  was  induced  to  leave  England  through  other  power- 
ful influence  ;  he  at  the  same  time  executed  a  deed  allowing 
her  £500  a  year  for  her  life,  and  further  agreed  to  discharge 
the  debts  that  were  pressing  her. 

8.  Some  of  these  debts  were,  however,  left  unpaid,  more 
especially  the  interest  (for  many  years)  of  £400  lent  by 
Lady  Blackburne,  which  Lady  Lytton  would  not  in  honour 
leave  unpaid  :  thus  she  was  compelled  once  again  to  borrow 
money  at  ruinous  interest,  and  afterwards  (in  1874,  being 
then  72  years  of  age)  she  finally  arranged  for  a  loan  through 
an  Insurance  office  of  sufficient  amount  to  pay  all  remain- 
ing claims  ;  but  this  reduced  her  annuity  of  £500  by  £256 


424  Conclusion. 

a  year,  so  that  she  had  left  but  £244  a  year  for  her  own 
use. 

9.  On  lier  son's  succession  to  the  Knebworth  Estate,  and 
the  fortune  inherited  from  liis  father,  he  allowed  his  Mother 
a  further  £200  a  year  ;  this  was  for  a  short  interval  with- 
drawn, and  afterwards  renewed,  to  be  paid  only  to  the  pre- 
cise day  of  her  death. 

10.  For  the  last  seven  years  of  her  life  Lady  Lytton 
resided  at  a  small  house,  "  Glenomera,''  at  Upper  Syden- 
ham, Litterly  with  only  one  servant.  She  rarely  left  her 
room,  and  (he  house  only  once  during  the  last  five  years. 
Naturally  of  a  too  generous  disposition,*  wholly  unselfish, 
and  frequently  loft  to  the  care  of  a  servant  who  was  equally 
unable  to  comprehend  or  to  supply  her  requirements,  she 
could  hardly  have  lived  so  long,  had  it  not  been  for  friends 
■who  commiserated  her  neglected  and  desolate  condition, 
and  tried  to  alleviate  her  sorrows  and  to  supply  what  were 
really  necessities,  by  assisting  her  to  the  utmost  extent  of 
their  ability,  details  of  which  they  are  anxious  should  not 
be  made  public. 

Although  in  her  80th  year,  she  possessed  to  the  last  the 
remains  of  a  beauty  that  had  been  so  noted  in  her  youth. 
Neither  her  generaral  tone  nor  habits  had  deteriorated 
through  adversity,  but  remained  to  the  last  as  distinguished 
as  they  were  polished  and  winning.  She  was  full  of 
anecdote  and  wit,  and  although  not  reticent  on  the  subject 
of  her  wrongs,  she  never  failed  to  leave  a  feeling  of  sadness 
and  regret,  that  so  much  capacity  for  all  that  was  loving 
and  affectionate  had  been  so  ruthlessly  destroyed,  succes- 
sively by  neglect,   wrong   and   persecution.     No   one   can 

*  Numerous  letters  of  gratitude  abundantly  bear  witness  to  tliis, 
and  other  cliarity  which  was  strictly  guided  by  the  injunction,  "  Let 
not  thy  left  hand  know,"  etc.  Even  when  in  very  straitened  circum- 
stances, and  until  the  day  of  her  death,  she  assisted  a  relative  of  her 
husband,  stUl  living. 


Conclusion.  425 

defend  some  of  her  published  extravagances,  but  our  blame 
should  more  justly  be  laid  on  those  who  abused  her  highly 
sensitive  nature,  and  induced  those  feelings  of  exasperation 
under  the  infliction  of  wrong,  which  she  had  no  other 
opportnnity  to  express.  Worn  out  by  sorrow,  afflicted  wiih 
much  bodily  suffering,  and  tormented  with  constant  mental 
distress,  this  poor  lady  died  rather  suddenly  on  the  12th  of 
March,  1882,  in  her  80th  year. 

Her  funeral  was  paid  for  by  the  present  Earl ;  the  only 
followers  were  Mr.  Shakespeare,  the  solicitor  respresenting 
the  Earl  of  Lytton  ;  the  Kcv.  Freeman  Wills,  a  distant 
relative  of  Lady  Lytton's  ;  Mr.  Ancona,  a  friend  ;  and  the 
Misses  Devey,  her  coexecutries.  Her  remains  are  buried  in 
the  pretty  churchyard  of  St,  John  the  Evyngelist,  at 
Shirley,  in  Surrey.  There  is  no  monument  over  the  grave, 
but  being  surrounded  by  so  many  others,  it  is  sufficiently 
marked  for  identification.  Her  furniture  and  effects  were 
sold  by  auction,  and  realized  a  sum  which  enabled  Messrs. 
Emmet  &  Son,  of  14,  Bloomsbury  Square,  solicitors  to  the 
executrices,  to  distribute  among  her  few  remaining  creditors 
a  dividend  of  about  ten  shillings  in  the  pound. 

In  her  will  she  expressed  a  wish  to  have  inscribed  on 
the  tombstone  (which  docs  not  exist)  the  following  words 
(Isaiah  Chap.  XIV.,  verse  3)  with  which  I  may  fittingly 
conclude  these  remarks  : 

**The  Lord  shall  give  thee  rest  from  thy  sorrow,  and 
from  thy  fear,  and  from  the  hard  bondage  wherein  thou 
wast  made  to  serve." 

Louisa  Devey. 
Montresor,  Upper  Norwood, 


APPENDIX. 


on 


Extracts  from  a  sliort  Journal  of  Mrs.  Edward  Lytti 
Bulioer  referred  to  in  the  foregoing  letters 

Berrymead,  Acton,  Dec  \Wi,  1835. 

I  have  always  remarked  that  every  one  in  solitary  con- 
finement, from  Baron  Trenck  down  to  Fieschi,  has  taken 
refuge  in  a  Journal,  I  suppose  on  the  same  principle  that 
madmen  talk  to  themselves.  They  have  no  one  else  to  talk 
to — at  all  events,  it  is  an  innocent  substitute  for  Society, 
with  advantage,  that  it  inflicts  one's  egotism  on  no  one  but 
oneself,  the  only  being  to  whom  it  would  not  be  obnoxious. 
So  much  for  "  the  fitness  of  things."  We  have  had  Jour- 
nals from  Purgatory  ;  vida  Fanny  Kemble's,  begun  on 
board  an  American  Steam  Boat ;  but  I  know  of  none  from 
the  other  place,  unless  the  ''Divina  Commedia  "  can  be 
considered  as  such.  Young  D'lsraeli  has  given  us  '*  Ixion 
in  Heaven  " — with  infinite  jwcundity,  but  these  are  all 
wide  fields  to  journalize  upon,  except  the  Baron's  and 
Fieschi's,  with  whose  may  rank  the  ingenious  Frenchman's 
most  ingenious  little  book,  **  Le  voyage  autour  de 
ma  chamhre." 

Now  the  circumnavigation  of  one's  own  room  may  suit 


Appendix.  427 

the  patient  perseverance  of  a  cook,  but  I  doubt  its  being 
palatable  to  the  enterprising  genius  of  a  Columbus,  and  in 
Life's  Masquerade  we  all  would  rather  play  the  part  of  the 
latter.  But  necessity  has  no  law,  except  that  of  chamber 
counci7  in  the  present  instance  ;  and  the  only  way  in  soli- 
tude to  have  "thoughts  that  breathe"  is  to  read  them 
aloud,  as  soon  as  one  has  written  them,  and  as  for  "  words 
that  burn"  they  are  easily  secured  by  committing  one's 
journal  to  the  flames,  as  soon  as  it  is  finished. 

Poor  M ,  how  I  miss  her  !  the  house  seems  like  a 

body  without  a  soul,  now  that  she  is  gone  and  I  am  literally 
"  Alone  !"  I  would  fret  more  about  her  chances  and 
changes,  but  that  I  am  convinced  God  is  as  much  for  her, 

as  she  is  with  and  for  Him.     Poor  little  E too  !  poor 

child,  she  is  happy  with  her  little  friend  and  companion. 
This  is  as  it  should  be,  we  ought  to  get  a  little  happiness 
on  account  in  childhood — it  prevents  Fate  being  too  much 
in  arrears  to  us. 

What  a  life  has  mine  been  !  A  sunless  childhood,  a 
flowcrless  youth,  and  certainly  a  fruitless  womanhood — the 
few  good  qualities  I  j^ossess  utterly  wasted,  or  rather 
despised  !  I  hate  looking  back  to  the  last  eight  years  of 
my  life.  I  so  thoroughly  despise  myself  for  having  wasted 
so  much  affection,  zeal  and  devotion  on  so  worthless  an 
object.  I  forgot  that  nothing  ever  takes  root  in  a  stone 
but  weeds  :  those  of  pride  and  selfishness  are  rooted  there 
with  a  vengeance,  and  yet  the  eternal  complaining  of  ivant 
of  sympathy  !  Sympathy  must  be  given  before  it  can  be 
received — just  as  respect  must  be  paid,  before  it  can  be 
expected  in  return.  Above  all,  sympathy,  like  electric 
fluid,  must  find  a  corresponding  vein  before  it  can  be  com- 
municated, and  therefore  self-love  annihilates  all  sympa- 
thy— because  self-love  is  indivisible. 

It  would  amuse  me  if  were  not  sick  at  heart  to  hear 
(who  cannot  remain  two  days  at  home,  and  who,  the 


428  Appendix. 

moment  he  for  a  short  interval  dismounts  from  the  whirl- 
wind of  his  ambition,  instantly  busies  himself  in  providing 
some  new  but  solitary  enjoyment,  which  would  be  marred 
for  him  if  another  shared  it)  complain,  like  a  poor  domes- 
tic home-rid  man,  of  having  his  Household  Gods  shivered 
about  him  and  his  Hearth  devastated,  because  he  has  the 
misfortune  to  be  tied  to  one  who  does  not  think  it  an  all- 
sufficient  honor  to  share  his  name  in  perfect  and  uninter- 
rupted loneliness,  or  to  see  him  at  distant  intervals,  when 
like  a  Sea  Captain  he  puts  in  occasionally  to  his  home  har- 
bour, and  makes  his  house  like  a  tavern  with  a  few  boon 
companions,  eating,  drinking,  smoking,  then  blustering 
about  the  bills  and  off  again  till  convenience  or  iiecessity 
once  more  drives  him  homeward.     I  could  not  help  smiling 

the  other  day  at  dinner,  when  Mr.  K told  us  of  Mr. 

N having  said  that,  were  he  to  marry  again,  he  would 

not   marry  a  "  shew  wife,"  at  's   remarking  that  it 

shewed  what  a 'sensible  man  N was  ;  not  so  sensible  as 

himself,  after  all,  for  N does  not  preveiii  his  wife  from 

opening  her  lips  or  writing  books;  and  moreover,  he  does 
not  shut  her  up  in  the  country  withouthorses,  which  would 
be  the  most  effectual  way  of  preventing  her  "  out-glaring  " 
him  in  personal  appearance,  as  she  is  so  handsome  and  he 
is  so  much  the  reverse.  The  epithets — is  so  fond  of  apply- 
ing to  women  always  angers  and  disgusts  me.     When  JMr. 

H was  pitying   the   usage   Mrs.    F had   received 

from  her  husband, — added  in  his  usual  well  bred  way, 
''  Oh,  that  is  the  story  of  the  d — d  woman's  friends." 
The  sort  of  mother  a  man  has  had  may,  generally  speak- 
ing, be  pretty  correctly  known  by  the  estimate  he  enter- 
tains of  her  sex.  There  are  two  kinds  of  mothers  who 
invariably  engender  in  their  sons  a  respect  for  woman. 
One  is  the  woman  of  superior  intellect,  properly  evinced  in 
the  education  of  her  children  and  concealed  in  the  presence 
of  her  husband  ;  the  other  is  one  who  possesses  that  sort  of 


Appendix.  429 

moral  pre-eminence  which,  proved  by  every  act  of  her  life, 
induces  her  sons  to  believe  that  a  good  woman  is  the  best 
counsellor  and  friend  that  a  man  can  have. 

On  the  other  hand,  if  a  man  can  only  think  of  his 
mother's  understanding  with  contempt,  and  her  caprice 
with  disgust,  he  is  apt  to  confound  the  rest  of  the  sex  with  * 
her,  while  the  only  vices  her  own  imbecility  has  so  care- 
fully nurtured,  the  vanity  she  has  manured  with  flatter}^, 
and  the  selfishness  she  has  grafted  with  jealousy,  all  con- 
spire to  choke  even  the  faint  impulses  of  Tenderness 
towards  herself  that  nature  might  have  implanted  in  him  ; 
and  with  characteristic  wisdom,  she  is  the  first  to  wonder 
at  the  result  of  her  own  work,  the  worst  part  of  which  is 
that  she,  the  cause  of  all  the  mischief,  only  suffers  from  it 
in  a  minor  degree,  and  it  is  reserved  for  some  wretched 
wife  to  become  its  victim. 

My  boy  is  but  four  years  old  ;  he  came  this  morning  to 
nie  praising  himself  for  having  kept  some  grapes  and  given 
them  to  his  nurse.  I  told  him  he  had  better  not  have  given 
thcni,  if  ho  thought  so  much  of  it  as  to  boast  about  it. 
lie  hud  been  reprobated  iiitherto  for  being  a  selfish  child 
and  sliaring  with  no  one  ;  so  he  stared  at  me,  and  did  not 
seem  to  know  what  I  ment.  No  matter ;  I  hope  he  will 
fully  understand  it  and  act  upon  it  by  the  time  he  is  20, 
I'm  sure  the  secret  of  forming  really  estiinable,  loveaUe 
characters  is  not  to  praise  children  for  doing  right,  but  to 
make  them  very  much  ashamed  of  doing  wrong. 

*I  dread  going  to  bed,  for  there  this  gnawing  pain  and 
low-fever  consume  me.  I  cannot  sleep,  and  therefore  can- 
not dream,  which  makes  loneliness  doubly  lonely — for 
dreams  are  a  sort  of  phantasmtigoria  of  life  :  they  are  kind 
things,  for,  even  if  horrid,  we  wake,  and  so  are  thankful  it 

*  Compare  this  with  her  sou's  statement,  that  "  The  care  of  chil- 
dren was  ever  afterwards  distasteful  to  her.''  Ficfe  "  Life  of  Lord 
Lytton,"  Vol.  ii.,  p.  219. 


430  Appefidix. 

was  hut  a  dream,  whereas,  if  they  are  happy  ones,  they  are 
to  us  sleeping  what  letters  are  to  ns  waking,  and  bring  tid- 
ings of  those  we  love  from  the  happy  sunny  past  into  that 
miserable,  barren  little  segment  of  life,  the  Present! 

Monday,  lUh.     Poor  little  T told  mo  a  piece  of 

sentiment  de  sa  part  to-day,  which,  if  worked  by  a  skilful 
lover  into  a  sonnet  to  his  mistress,  would  not  in  tenderness 
and  delicacy  be  exceeded  by  anything  Boccacsio  ever  felt 
towards  his  Fiametta,  or  Petrarch  ever  invented  about 
Laura.  He  said  he  went  every  morning  to  feed  the  birds 
at  his  sister's  window. 

I  asked  him  why  he  did  not  feed  them  at  his  own 
nursery  window  ? 

"  Oh,"  said  he,  "  because  I  wish  dem  to  tink  dat  Emily 
still  feeds  dem  ;  for  she  has  fed  dem  so  long,  dat  dey  must 
love  her  de  best ;  and  dey  might  not  eat  do  crumbs  if  dey 
thought  she  was  gone  !" 

I  can  think  of  nothing  better  than  this,  and  so  will  leave 
off. 

Tuesday,  15th.     No  letters  I  have  sent  off  the  books 

and   basket   to  ,    and   such   a  regal-looking,    profuse 

bunch  of  dear,  sweet  Neapolitan  violets  as  an  English 
December  seldom  produces.  So  she,  I  hope,  will  at  least 
have  half  an  hour's  pleasure  in  unpacking  the  basket,  eat- 
ing the  fruit,  and  kissing  the  violets — at  least  I  suppose  she 
will  kiss  them,  as  I  always  do  ;  and  they  are  such  double 
darlings  to  come  in  this  black-looking  weather. 

A  propos  of  darlings,  there  is  the  queen  of  them  all, 
that  dear  dog  Fay;  no  wonder  I  doat  upon  her  as  I  do  ! 
The  little  creature  with  her  big  loving  diamond  eyes  seems 
to  think  it  incumbent  on  her  to  make  up  to  me  for  the  rest 
of  the  world  ;  for  she  not  only  sings  her  Mazurka  with 
double  the  alacrity  she  used  to  do,  but  sits  up,  or  rather 
walks  about,  on  l)er  hind  paws  all  the  time — and  so  emu- 
lating Taglioni  as  well  as  Grisi — which  she  never  did  before  ; 


Appendix.  43 1 

and  "wlien  I  cry,  the  little  silver-silken  paws  are  instantly 
round  my  neck,  and  the  little  velvet  head  under  my  chin — 
and  then  the  little  low  sympathetic  moan  and  every  canine 
consolation  she  can  think  of.     Tlien  the  game  of  Teetotum 

with  T !  and  the  way  she  knocks  it  down  with  her  paw 

as  if  to  enter  into  the  spirit  of  the  game),  when  we  say 
''which  number  will  Faizey  have  ?"  And  yet  some  fools 
wonder  I  should  love  that  dog — aye  that  do  I  !  and  the 
more  that  she  is  a  dog  of  charactei',  and  has  ''a  lick  for 
those  she  loves  "  and  "  a  snap  for  those  she  hates." 

I  have  been  casting  up  my  bills — mo,  friends — and  am 

not  so  badly  o£f  after  all,  for  I  have  one  certain,  dear  M , 

who  has  been  tried  and  proved  so  often  as  to  be  quite  sus- 
picion proof.     Then  I  think  dear really  loves  me,  tho' 

I  have  sometimes  thought  she  was  too  happy  and  too  well 
off,  as  far  as  this  world  goes,  to  be  capable  of  paying  the 
tax  of  genuine  friendship,  great  self-sacrit5cc,  on  all  occa- 
sions ;  but  her  last  letters  have  been  very  kind,  very 
genuine  and  very  consolatory  ;  and  to  have  time  to  think 
even  of  Poor  Me,  in  that  paradis  des  femmes — much  more 
to  write  me  such  long  affectionate  letters — is  certainly 
friendship  put  to  one  of  its  tests  :  her  faults  she  has 
borrowed  from  others,  which  must  be  their  excuse  ;  but 
her  youngness  of  feeling  and  singleness  of  disposition  are 
her  own,  and  they  must  have  been  of  the  nature  of  asbestos 
to  have  gone  unscathed  through  the  fiery  ordeal  of  pros- 
perity and  pleasure  ;  but  like  many  others  she  will  never 
get  the  credit  she  deserves,  for  she  acts  better  than  she 

tnlhs.     Poor ,  too  ;  I  once  thouglit  her  very  staunch  to 

me,  and  returned  her  supposed  affection  with  all  sincerity, 
as  is  my  wont — mais  qui  soit  f  As  a  burnt  child  dreads 
the  fire,  so  do  T  dread,  or  rather  doubt,  "  the  tribe."  One 
can't  have  a  greater  type  of  an  Author's  insincerity  carried 
to  a  pitch  of  sublimity,  than  Voltaire's  saying  to  Swift, 
that  reading  his  (the  Dean's)  works  made  him  ashamed  of 


432  Appendix. 

his  own  !  He  couM  not  think  tiiis,  nor  indeed  could  any 
one  else  ;  one  only  wonders  that  the  insincerity  of  his 
nature  could  have  been  to  mucli  more  powerful  than  the 
vanity  of  his  art;  but  the  mystery  is  solved  when  one 
remembers  that  he  said  this  at  the  conclusion  of  that  letter 
which  he  had  begun  by  requesting  Swift's  exertions  in  get- 
ting up  an  Irish  subscription  for  the  "  Henriade"! 

Wednesday,  16th, — A   letter   from .      Not   a   word 

about  the  violets,  and  too  many  about  the  books  and  the 
sweetmeats  and  the  Spanish  Melon.  I  am  called  away  to 
Thomas  Millar,  the  English  Burns  and  Nottingham  Basket- 
Maker. 

"Well  I  have  seen  him  !  in  person  he  is  like  a  hazel-nut 
— said  the  PooUich  had  indeed  appreciated  his  works — he 
had  the  authorly  egotism  strongly  upon  him,  and  seemed  to 
labour  under  what  Pope  and  Swift  so  bitterly  complained  of 
in  Gay,  and  which  the  latter  designated  as  "apainfiil  intense- 
ncss  about  his  own  affairs."  He  said  he  had  had  "  a  very 
sweet"  (that  was  his  phr.ise)  letter  from  Moore,  and  had 
seen  all  the  live  authors  worth  seeing,  from  my  sposo  down- 
wards ;  but  that  it  had  not  at  all  turned  his  brain  !  (No  to 
be  sure,  for  he  had  only  seen  thetu  !)  Next  to  his  own 
poems,  he  spoke  more  con  amore  about  Newstead  Abbey, 
Lord  Byron,  and  his  Mary  (Mis.  Musters)  than  anything 
else.  He  said  her  beauty  was  perfectly  angelic  and 
unearthly,  and  that  her  husband  was  a  perfect  brute — Cela 
va  sans  dire,  if  she  was  an  angel. 

He  talked  fanatically  about  woods  and  flowers  and  vio- 
lets, yet  he  never  even  noticed  mine  that  were  breathing  out 
their  purple  souls  from  their  golden  baskets  round  the  room  ; 
he  said  when  ho  had  written  many  hours  together,  he  could 
neither  eat  nor  sleep,  and  could  not  account  for  the  burning 
pains  in  his  head.  I  told  him  I  could  ;  for  that  the  body 
was  a  sort  of  wife  to  the  mind,  and  would  not  allow  it  to  go 
gadding,  amusing  itself  and  others,  and  reaping  fame  and 


Appendix.  433 

profit  to  the  otenial  injury  of  her  liealth,  from  want  of  exer- 
cise and  starvation,  without  twitting  and  worrying  him, 
when  he  at  length  thought  fit  to  remember  her  existence. 
Whereat — like  Queen  Elizabeth,  while  pocketing  the  count- 
ess of  Suffolk's  "  over-rich  comfit-cake,"  he  ''  waxed  exceed- 
ing merry."  He  then  wrote  a  very  pretty  sonnet  in  my 
Album,  for  which  I  thanked  him  much,  had  some  wine, 
and  I  bought  five  baskets,  which  lie  had  brought  with  him. 
Poor  man  !  he  wished  mucli  for  Tennyson's  Poems,  which 
he  said  he  was  not  able  to  buy  ;  so  I  have  sent  them  to  him, 
and  since  dinner  have  read  some  of  his,  parts  of  wjjich  are 
really  beautiful,  and  there  is  one  line  that  Shakespeare 
might  have  put  into  Puck's  mouth,  i.  e. — 

"The  bee  went  round  to  tell  the  flowers  'twas  May." 

I  lent  him  my  Florentine  basket,  that  kind,  agreeable  Mr. 
Landor  gave  me  at  Fiezole,  filled  with  those  delicious  figs 
gathered  from  his  beautiful  gardens  in  the  sunniest  nook 
in  the  Vol  d'Arno. 

The  very  shape  of  the  basket  breathes  of  Boccaccio. 
Millar  was  enchanted  with  it,  and  hoped  to  make  a  fortune 
by  imitating  it. 

T ■  said  a  very  good  lesson  to-day,  and  read  a  story 

about  a  lion  who  did  not  eat  a  dog  :  the  story  ended  by  say- 
ing '■'  and  ever  after  the  lion  and  the  dog  lived  on  friendly 
terms  together."  I  asked  him  if  he  knew  what  "living  on 
friendly  terms  "  ment ;  he  considered  for  a  moment,  and 
then  said  *'  Yes  !  I'm  sure  Faizey  and  Juno  will  never  live 
on  friendly  terms  todeder — for  Faizey  snaps  at  Juno  to  this 
day  !" 

11th. — In  too  great  pain  to  write,  an(^  nothing  to  write 
about. 

18^7/. — A    letter    from    dear    M ,    which    I    have 

answered.     A  note  from  Mr.  R ,  with  his  book.     The 

wonderful  cloak  has  at  length  arrived,  and  is  worthy  of  the 
donor  (H.  B.) 


434  Appendix, 

In  a  place  like  London  he  must  have  found  it  difficult 
to  get  so  shabby  a  one  ;  but  it  is  the  idiosyncrasy  of  genius 
to  overcome  great  difficulties  !  It  is  a  mile  too  short ; 
however,  I  may  console  myself  on  the  old  Joe  Miller  reflec- 
tion that  it  will  be  long  enough  before  I  get  another  !  I 
am  now  going  to  read  Mr.  R 's  book. 

19^7i. — I  am  too  ill  to  write,  or  do  anything  but  lie  down 
and  die — if  I  could.  But  that  would  be  too  happy  a 
release  for  me. 

2,Qth. — I  have  read  Mr.  R 's  book  ;  it  is  extremely 

well  written,  but  quite  too  horrible;  there  is,  however, 
one  master-stroke  of  knowledge  of  human  nature  in  it :  in 
describing  that  most  odious  character,  the  Parricide^s 
Father,  he  says  "  he  neither  possessed  any  ])ositive  virtue 
or  positive  vice,  and  I  know  of  but  two  words  that  will 
accurately  describe  him — he  was  eminently  selfish  and 
insensible,"  in  these  two  sentences  all  his  atrocities  are 
fully  accounted  for,  the  first  being  the  Alpha  and  Omega 
of  all  vice,  and  the  latter  a  barrier  Avhich  no  virtue  ever 
passes  ;  but  still  I  think  (as  I  told  him)  the  moral  of  such 
powerful  materials  would  have  been  more  subtle,  and 
infinitely  more  useful  had  he  made  both  father  and  son 
equal  monsters,  equal  destroyers  of  their  own  and  other's 
happiness — and  still  kept  them  withm  the  pale  of  the 
law,  for  then  it  would  have  been  sufficiently  vral-semlJalle  to 
have  borne  a  comparison  with  the  dire,  hourly  and  daily 
realities  of  life,  all  i-ising  out  of  the  same  sources,  parental 
neglect  and  selfishness,  egotism  and  vanity  let  loose  like  so 
many  vicious  unbridled  brutes,  enacting  the  part  of 
Avild  horses  to  that  doomed  Mazeppa,  their  possessor's 
fate  ! 

Poor  little  T said   a  very  good  lesson  to-day — he 

really  is  an  uncommonly  quick,  clever  child,  and  if  I  can 
but  root  the  selfishness,  egotism,  and  vanity  that  is  already 
dreadfully   deep-rooted   in   so  young    a    child    (for  they 


Appendix.  435 

actually  seem  part  of  his  blood,  bone  and  muscle),  I  may 
make  a  fine  creature  of  him  ;  if  not,  I  would  rather  he  had 
been  a  born  idiot,  for  mere  intellect,  however  highly  culti- 
vated, luithoiU  an  equally  cultivated  disj^osition,  is  but  like 
a  brilliant  beacon  ])laced  on  the  summit  of  a  barren  and 
isolated  rock,  which,  by  revealing  the  perilous  void 
beneath,  only  warns  and  repels  by  that  very  light,  which 
differently  situated  could  not  fail  to  vivify  and  attract. 

Oh  !  when,  will  those  who  have  thetrainning  of  embryo 
men  and  women  remember,  and  educate  upon,  this  golden 
maxim  ''que  Von  est  plus  sociable  et  d'un  meilleicr  com- 
merce par  le  coeur  que  par  V esprit.''' 

21st. — What  another  dreadful  night  I  have  had  !  no 
sleep,  and  in  torture  the  whole  time  !  My  nature  must  be 
a  happy  mixture  of  asbestos,  cast  iron,  and  feline  unkilla- 
bility  ;  for  no  fever  will  consume  me,  no  illness  break  me, 
and  worst  of  all  no  grief  will  kill  me.  Had  a  note  to-night 
from  Count  D'Orsay,  offering  me  his  box  at  the  Adelpliia 
on  Thursday;  very  good-natured  of  him  to  think  of  me; 
answered  it  in  bad  French — and  worse  humour,  at  not 
being  able  to  avail  myself  of  the  offer ;  for  as  my  Lord  and 
master  takes  such  infinite  pains  to  assure  me  that  I  am 
older  than  any  of  the  ladies  of  38  and  40  now  extant.* 

I  dont  see  why  I  should  not  have  some  of  the  benefits  of 
my  antiquity,  and  issue  forth  like  the  Prayer  Book',  cwn 
privilegio — for,  for  the  sort  of  life  I  am  compelled  to  lead,  1 
might  a?  well  have  the  misfortune  to  be  a  beauty  of  fifteen. 
So,  had  I  been  well  enough,  I  should  certainly  have  ac- 
cepted the  box,  as  I  am  sure  Mrs.  L.  S or  Mrs.  W 

would  have  been  delighted  to  have  gone  with  me. 

*  Mrs.  E.  L.  Bulwer  was  then  just  33.  Sbe  was  bora  the  2nd 
of  November,  1803,  and  Mr.  Bulwer  in  the  following  May,  con- 
sequently was  only  six  months  older  than  her  husband,  and  not,  as 
her  son  states,  "  just  one  year  older  than  my  father."  Vide  2nd  Vol., 
p.  33,  of  "Biography." 


4  3  6  Appendix. 

22nd,  Tuesday  Morning. — Another  dreadful  night  ;  no 
sleep,  and  pain  than  which  I'm  sure  the  rack  cannot  be 

worse.     A  letter  of  tender  enquiries  from  the  poor  D s. 

what's  this?  Another  letter?  and  comes  to  Is.  4d.!  It 
is  too  costly,  with  its  large  seal  and  all  !  Ha  !  an  invita- 
tion from  H B to  go  to  B ,  a  promis  of  an  Opera- 
box  and  a  seat  at  church  (I),  with  an  apology  for  coupling 

them.      He  goes  on   to   say   M may  (well-bred  this  !) 

accompany  me  as  a  chaperon  if  she  likes.  I  am  sure  both 
the  invitations  are  given  in  perfect  sincerity,  from  the  con- 
viction that  Lhey  will  not  be  accepted  ;  however,  I  ought  to 
bo  grateful,  as  it  is  by  far  the  best  attempt  he  has  yet  made 
at  kindness  and  sincerity,  to  say  nothing  of  the  heartfelt 

laugh  it  has  given  mo  to  envisager  dear  M and  myself, 

first,  en  rout  for  the  Island  of  Calypso  !  next  our  arrival  !  ! 
then  my  conjectures  as  to   whether  his  Penseroso  Majesty 

of would  recognise    in    the   portly    (for   I   won't     call 

myself  by  any  more  disadvantageous  name)  matron  of  2Jast 
28  (!!)  the  girl  of  19  that  he  used  to  call  "the  Dark-haired 
Sylph."  No,  most  assurely,  for  there  is  a  /a^-ality  attends 
mo  in  all  things  now — and  then  what  fun  we  would 
have,  writing  to  dear  M.  A.  and  Blust,  who  I  dare  say 
would  tell  us  out  of  envy  tliat  we  were  two  women  "  she 
had  not  the  slightest  resi)ect  for." 

It  seems  quite  ominous  that  I  should  have  been  reading 
"Tlie  Impossible  Encliantment "  and  '"The  Palace  of 
Ideas"  just  before  I  got  this  epistle  ;  could  I  have  achieved 
this  exploit,  it  would  have  been  delicious,  even  in  my 
mind's  eye,  to  have  seen  my  Lord  and  Master's  face  when 
he  returned  and  found  that,  est  il  possible!  himself  was 
gone  off. 

"Went  out  for  the  first  time  these  10  days  ;  described  to 
the  gardener  about  making  the  flower-pots  into  baskets,  and 
dug  the  first  circle  of  the  Xorthern  Star  myself ;  kissed  and 
talked  to  poor  darling   ITiddlestit-k,  who  licked  my  hand. 


Appendix.  437 

nibbed  his  innocent  head  against  ine,  bleated,  and  in  short 
appeared  more  delighted,  to  sec  me  than  any  other  relation 
I  have  in  the  world  ;  came  home  ;  had  a  greater  bevy  than 
ever  of  robins  in  the  room,  and  that  fat  red-iiooded  Cardinal 
of  a  fellow  that  always  eats  the  most  and  flies  upon  the  bed 
and  even  upon  Faizey's  head  of  a  morning,  jumped  upon 
my  shoulder.  Played  on  the  guitar  for  an  hour,  and  sang 
— a  blaze  sprang  up  in  the  fire,  and  fell  full  upon  the 
Picture  of  Napoli  di  Posolipo — I  flung  down  the  guitar  ; 
again  was  I  returning  from  the  dear,  balmy,  happy,  sunset 
drive,  on  the  Strada  Nova  ;  again  did  I  feel  the  soft  breeze 
on  my  cheek  from  across  tiie  bay,  freighted  with  a  warm 
kiss  from  Vesuvius  ;  again   did  I  cast  my  eye  along  the 

ciaja,  and  as  I  saw  Ld  H 's  Palazzo,  where  the  ball  was 

to  be  held  at  night,  call  to  poor  stupid,  often  scolded,  but 
still  more  often  regretted  Francesco,  to  order  another 
wreath  with  more  myrtle  and  fewer  roses.  Ah  !  Naples, 
dear  Naples  !  you  are  the  only  place  in  which  I  ever  felt 
young  (for  I  did  not  do  so  as  a  child)  and  what  was  the 
result  ?  Did  I  commit  more  follies  ?  No  mais  qui  vit 
sans  folie  n'est  jjas  si  sage  qic'll  jjense. 

237'd. — A  letter  from  dear   M ,   poor  M ;   and 

a  letter  from  Mr.  B ,  overflowing  with  morbid  sensibility 

for  himself,  and  repudiating  me  !     Be  it  so  ! 

[iSome pages  missing  here.] 

How  fond  I  am  of  Biography  !  it  is  like  living  other 
people's  lives  at  second-hand,  or  rather  skimming  the  cream 
of  their's,  to  enrich  the  milk-and-water  of  one's  own.  I 
have  lately  been  struggling,  and  hoping,  and  dining  and 
triumphing,  and  desponding,  deceiving  and  maddening  with 
Swift.  I  have  been  to  the  printer's  with  him,  with  the  last 
number  of  the  Examiner,  and  called  on  "  poor  Patty  Eolt  " 
by  the  way,  who  had  but  £18  a  year  to  live  on  !  and  seen 
her  eyes  sparkle  at  the  guinea  which  patched  up  twenty 


438  Appendix 

things.  I  have  returned  to  the  Thatched  House;  dined 
with  the  Lord  Treasurer,  &c.,  &c. 

As  for  my  idol  Pope,  I  am  afraid  Lady  M.  W.  Mon- 
tagu was  right  that  lie  was  un  peu  avare  and  a  terrible 
legacy  hunter;  nevertheless,  "I  love  him  hugely,"  and 
really  cried  that  night  we  were  overturned  in  my  L^ 
Bolingbroke's  coach-and-six  ''and  that  he  got  immersed 
in  the  Thames  up  to  the  knots  of  his  periwig  "  and  cut  his 
hand  so  terribly.  Well  !  at  least  he  was  a  paragon  of  a 
son — *'  that  nobody  can  deny  " — and  the  solicitude  with 
which  he  attended  to  his  mother  makes  me  forgive  the 
frugality  of  the  dinners  at  Twickenham,  and  even  the 
two-pronged  forks  which  drove  Swift  into  the  abomination 
of  eating  with  his  knife,  and  thereby  got  him  into  such 
disgrace  with  the  Duchess  of  Queensberry  ;  but  ''out  of 
evil  Cometh  good,"  for  this  forced  him  into  spending  £30 
on  three-pronged  forks. 

Then  how  well  I  can  fancy  the  still  more  scanty  sup- 
pers, with  nothing  plentiful  but  the  fruit,  which  Swift 
could  not,  and  Arbuthnot  would  not  touch  ;  the  early 
withdrawal  of  the  host;  the  "little  half-pint  of  wine''; 
and  his  everlasting  parting  address  of  "  Gentlemen,  I  leave 
you  to  your  wine !"  and  the  D'''^  good-humoured  gibe  of 
"  yes,  but  you  don't  leave  your  ivitie  to  us." 

Then  I  think  I  see  the  conclave  examining  the  broken 
pen-knife,  with  which  Guiscard  stabbed  Lord  Oxford,  and 
their  feverish  anxiety  for  his  recovery.  As  for  Lord  Bol- 
ingbroke,  I  never  did,  and  never  can,  admire  him,  and  for 
"  the  all  accomplished"  I  would  read  "the  all  pretending 
St.  John  '■ :  he  was  a  happy  mixture  of  fop,  stoic,  states- 
man, and  philosopher  :  there  was  an  eternal  str  lining  after 
effect  and  nothing  real  about  him,  not  even  his  scepticism, 
etc.  In  short,  tho'  Lord  Chatam  when  a  you  -g  man  was 
surprised  on  going  to  see  Bolingbroke  (then  an  old  one)  at 
Battersea  to  find  him  as  he  describes,  '  pedantic,  fretful 


Appendix.  439 

and  angry  with  his  wife,"  I  am  not  the  least  suprised  to 
hear  it ;  for  there  was  no  longer  a  motive  for  display, 
which  had  been  the  governing  principle  of  his  life. 

January  Mli,  1836. — Poor  Mama  came  in  all  the  frost 
and  snow  to  see  me  ;  very  kind  of  her  ;  gave  me  a  nice 
warm  shawl,  ermine,  muff  and  boa. 

Uli. — A  letter  from  poor  dear  Elizabeth.  She  still  con- 
tinues ill.  AVhat  a  martyr  she  is  !  but  like  me,  if  she  were 
dying,  I  believe,  she  would  contrive  to  laugh  at  Tommy 
the  Great — his  letters  from  Algiers  are  indeed  as  dismal  as 
"  Letters  de  Cachet."  However,  Parnassus  has  two  ascents, 
one  sacred  to  Apollo,  the  other  to  Bacchus,  and  tho'  he  may 
have  failed  in  reaching  the  summit  of  the  former,  he  has 
soared  most  triumphantly  to  the  pinnacle  of  the  latter  I 

So,  tho'  he's  not  Valerius  Flaccus, 
He  might  pass  any  day  for  Bacchus 

7//i  January. — Another  blester,  and  too  ill  to  write. 

28/A  February. — My  Jailor  returned  with  his  amiable 

Epicurean   debauchee  friend,  Mr. ,  after  a   5   weeks' 

absence  ;  and,  ill  as  I  have  been  too,  he  could  not  be  here 
one  day  ulone. 

March  1st. — From  crying,  coughing  and  violent  agita- 
tion, have  burst  a  small  bloodvessel.  Oh,  my  God,  my 
God,  when  will  you  take  me  ? 

[The  Journal  abruptly  ends  here.] 

Letter  Respecting  The  Death  of  Miss  Lytton  (1848)  From 
]\Liss  Katherine  Phmche  (An  Eye-witness)  To  The 
Baroness  De  Eitter. 

The  Lodge,  Michael's  Grove,  Brompton, 

May  2Sth,  1848. 

Madam, — Tliough    a    perfect    stranger,    I    venture  to 

address  you  on  the  part  of  Lady  Bulwer  Lytton,  whose 

personal  and  most  intimate  friend  I  have  the  honor  to  be. 

Having  heard  her  repeatedly  express  a  deep  anxiety  to  learn 


440  Appendix, 

any  particulars  connected  with  her  much  loved  and  unfor- 
tunate daughter,  my  wish  to  gratify  so  natural  a  desire  has 
emboldened  me  to  write  to  you,  of  whose  kindness  to  Miss 
Lytton  I  have  heard  so  much.  I  trust  I  am  not  the  first 
person  to  ucquiiint  you  with  the  fatal  termination  of  her  ill- 
ness, which  ended  in  typus  fever  on  the  29th  of  April,  two 
days  after  the  arrival,  at  my  instagation,  of  her  Mother. 
Her  Ladyship  hired  the  room  which  you  had  vacated, 
and  remained  during  the  whole  night  of  the  27th  on  the 
staircase,  listening  to  poor  Emily's  continued  exclamations 
about  ''My  Mother,"  that  Mother  having  given  her  word 
of  lionor  to  the  medical  man,  Mr.  Eouse,  that  nothing 
should  tempt  her  into  her  child's  room,  as  he  represented 
that  any  sudden  emotion  would  endanger  her  life,  at  the 
same  time  assuring  her  Mother  that  there  was  no  danger 
to  be  apprehended  at  that  moment,  and  that  the  poor 
young  victim's  illness  was  merely  an  attack  of  hysteria. 

The  agony  that  Lady  Lytton  suffered  during  that  night, 
hearing  her  chikl's  voice  for  the  first  time  in  ten  years,  in 
supplication  and  pain,  can  easily  be  understood.  Madam,  by 
you,  who  are  a  Mother,  and  the  unparalleled  controul  she 
had  over  her  feelings  can  only  be  believed  by  those  who 
witnessed  it. 

By  some  treachery  the  next  morning  Sir  Edward  was 
informed  of  Lady  Lytton's  arrival,  and,  remaining  himself 
at  Miss  Greene's  ordered  the  medical  man  to  desire  Lady 
Lytton  to  leave  the  house,  upon  iX^Q.pIca  that  her  presence  in 
it  had  already  endangered  poor  dear  Emily's  life,  when  she 
had  not  either  seen  or  heard  her  Mother,  and  had  not  the 
slightest  suspicion  of  her  being  so  near  her.  Dr.  Marshall 
Hall  and  Mr.  Rouse  executed  Sir  Edward's  orders  in  the 
most  cruel  and  ungentlemanlike  manner,  as  I  am,  unfor- 
tunately for  them,  a  witness  of,  and  dear  Lady  Lytton  at 
my  entreaties  (which  were  the  more  urgent  from  my  sus- 
picion that,  if  dear  Emily  died,  Sir  Edward  would  accuse 


Appendix.  44 1 

Lady  Lyttoii  of  being  the  cause  of  her  death)  left  the  house 
and  went  home  with  me  in  a  state  of  mind  which  I  cannot 
attempt  to  describe.  Her  poor  child,  died  the  next  evening, 
having  been  seen  in  her  last  moments  by  Dr.  Tweedie  (one 
our  most  celebrated  physicians)  on  the  part  of  Lady  Lytton, 
who  pronounced  her  decease  to  be  from  typus  fever. 

On  Sir  Edward's  first  discovery  of  Lady  Lytton's  arrival, 
he  suspected  that  she  had  been  summoned  by  you  to  her 
daughter,  which  suspicion  leads  me  to  hope  that  you  have 
sympathised  with  and  pitied  the  dear  girl's  motherless 
position,  and  endeavoured  to  alleviate  it  as  much  as  possible. 

I  need  scarcely  say  that  any  little  circumstance  con- 
nected with  her  beloved  child  will  be  vitally  interesting  to 
my  dear  friend,  and  she  is,  I  know,  most  grateful  to  you 
and  your  daughter  for  the  affection  and  kindness  you 
manifested  to  poor  Emily  during  her  life.  Poor  child  !  by 
this  most  untimely  end  she  is  spared  the  cruel  knowledge 
of  till  her  Mother  has  suffered  through  ten  long  yeais  of 
separation  from  her  children. 

I  must  entreat  you  to  pardon  my  intrusion  upon  you, 
Madam,  and  that  you  will  kindly  and  charitably  throw  any 
light  in  your  power  upon  the  early  portion  of  the  poor 
girl's  illness.  I  shall  most  anxiously  look  for  an  answer 
from  you,  and  with  the  assurance  of  my  respect, 
I  have  the  honor  to  be,  Madam, 

your  obedient  servant, 
Katheeine  Frances  Planchb. 

To  the  Baroness  de  Ritter. 

The  Baroness  De  Ritter's  Ansvter  To  Miss  Planche's 

Letter. 

Madam, — J'ai  re^u  hier  votre  lettre  du  29  Mai,  qui 
contient  Ics  premieres  nouvelles  directcs  de  la  mort  de  la 
pauvre  Emily  Lytton  qui  m'a  fait  une  sensation  inexprim- 


44  2  Appendix, 

able,  car  je  puis  bien  vous  assurer,  que  j'aimais  cette  douce 
et  excellente  enfant  comme  ma  propre  fille — qui  est  niain- 
tcnunt  au  d^sespoir,  ayant  perdu  si  imprevu,  son  unique 
amie,  qu'elle  adorait.  Ma  douleur  en  est  extreme,  ct  je 
regrette  de  tout  mon  coeur  de  ne  pas  6tre  restec  aupres 
d'Emily  jusqu'a  son  dernier  soupir;  mai.s  j'ui  passee  aupres 
d'elle  tout  I'ete  passee  et  une  partie  de  I'hiver,  et  comme 
ma  famille  exigeait  mon  retour,  je  ne  pouvais  absolument 
restcr  plus  longtems  en  Angleterre. 

Je  plains  de  tout  mon  coeur  la  pauvre  m^re  de  I'infortunee 
Emily,  car  je  mesure  ses  sentiments  d'apres  les  miens,  et  jc 
deplore  les  circonstances  qui  ne  lui  ont  pas  permcs  de 
s'  approcher  du  lit  de  son  pauvre  enfant  mourante,  qui  a 
tres  souvent  prononee  le  nom  de  sa  mere  pendant  sa  maladie. 
Je  ne  puis  vous  dire  exactement  la  cause  de  sa  maladie,  car 
elle  a  ete  separee  de  moi  plusieurs  mois,  ayant  accepte  une 
invitation  amicale  de  la  famille  D'Eyncourt  a  Bayons,  oii 
elle  a  retju  un  rhunie  tres  fort,  de  sorte  qu'elle  a  continue 
de  tousser  d'une  maniere  tres  inquietante  a  son  retour  cliez 
moi  a  Londres  ;  j'ai  eu  tons  les  regards  possibles  pour  elle, 
mais  sans  succ^s  ;  enfin  elle  a  et6  forcee  de  se  mettre  au  lit 
puisqu'un  mal  de  tete  offreux  la  tourmentait  jour  et  nuit; 
je  n'ai  pas  quitte  son  lit  pendant  plusieurs  semaines,  et  elle 
a  re9u  tous  les  soins  possibles  ;  enfin  on  a  pris  une  bonne 
pour  la  soigner  encore  mieux,  et  les  medi^ins  m'out  pries  de 
ne  plus  entrer  dans  sa  chambre,  craignant  que  la  vue  des 
personnes,  qu'elle  aimait  ne  I'excitait  trop. 

On  m'a  assure,  qu'il  n'y  avait  pas  de  danger  pour  sa  vie 
et  apres  avoir  prie  Sir  Edward  de  m'amener  ma  douce 
Emily  a  Vienne  apres  son  retablisscmcnt  pour  changer  d'air, 
je  partis  dans  I'cspoir  de  trouverici  de  bonnes  nouvellcs, 
qui  m'auraient  d6dommagees  de  i'etat  deplorable  dans 
lequcl  j'ai  retrouve  ma  patrie  apres  une  absence  do  10  mois, 
et  je  puis  bien  dire  que  j'ai  pass6es  les  premieres  semaines 
en  pleurcs,  et  je  me  sens  incapable  de  donner  des  consola- 


Appendix.  443 

tions  a  Lady  Lytton,  que  je  n'ai  I'honneur  de  connaitre  ;  Je 
puis  seulement  lui  conseiller  d'implorer  ]e  Bon  Dieu  pour 
supporter  cette  perte  douloureuse,  et  de  se  consoler  avec 
I'idee  assurante,  que  notre  pauvre  Emily  a  quitte  unvo  vie 
pleine  de  peines,  pour  recevoir  pres  de  Dieu  les  recompenses 
pour  ses  excellentes  qualities,  dont  j'ai  ete  t6moin  si  long- 
tems.     Agreez,  quoique  inconnue  I'aussurance  de  respect  de 

Votre  sincere, 

Amelie  De  Ritter. 
Vienna,  Spiegelgasse  No.  1098, 

le  7  ieme  Juia  1848. 

Illness  And  Death  of  Emily  Elizabeth  Bulwer. 

The  writer  of  the  following  narrative  is  still  living  ;  she 
is  the  widow  of  William  Curteis  Whelan,  of  Heronden 
Hall,  Temterden,  Kent,  and  was  the  elder  daughter  of  the 
late  J.  R.  Planche,  the  well-known  dramatist,  etc,  etc. 

She  first  met  Lady  Bulwer  in  July,  1847,  at  Ashburn- 
ham  House,  Chelsea,  at  a  garden  party  given  by  Mrs. 
Leicester  Stanhope,  afterwards  Countess  of  Harrington. 
In  the  early  part  of  the  following  year  Lady  Bulwer  invited 
her  to  East  Ham,  whore  she  was  then  residing,  when  she 
had  ample  opportunities  for  learning  the  true  story  of  her 
separation  from  her  husband,  and  also  from  her  children 
by  his  orders.  Lady  Lytton  appears  to  have  formed  a 
strong  attachment  to  this  lady,  whose  sympathy  was 
assured,  and  to  have  enlisted  her  services  for  obtaining  any 
information  respecting  her  daughter,  whose  place  of  resi- 
dence ever  had  been  carefully  concealed  from  the  mother. 
Enquiries  among  the  friends  of  Sir  Edward  who  were  also 
her  own,  had  no  satisfactory  result,  and  she  had  despaired 
of  success,  when  an  accident  procured  all  the  information 
required  ;  but  this  had  better  be  explained  in  her  own 
words,  which  are  quoted  as  follows  : — 

'*  Singularly  enough,   one  evening  in  the  month  of 


444  Appendix. 

April,  1848,  a  friend  of  my  father's  came  to  see  us,  and 
said  to  me  immediately  on  entering  the  room,  '  Do  you 
know  that  the  yoniig  hidy  you  are  in  search  of  is  living 
close  here  V  He  then  explained  that  vhile  sitting  in  the 
shop  of  a  chemist  in  the  Fulliam  Road,  he  was  shown  a 
prescription,  and  told  that  the  daughter  of  Bulwer  Lytton 
was  lying  dangerously  ill  at  a  smnll  lodging  house  in  Pel- 
ham  Terrace,  Pelham  Crescent,  Brompton,  and  that  Dr. 
Eouse,  of  Fnlham,  whom  I  knew,  Avas  attending  her.  Sad 
as  such  news  was,  I  hastened  next  moi-ning  to  Pelham  Ter- 
race, and  seeing  a  shop-boy  knock  at  a  door,  I  waited  till 
he  had  been  answered,  and  then  hazarded  the  enquiry 
'How  is  Miss  Lytton  to-day  ?'  when  immediately  came  the 
reply,  ^  A  little  better,  we  think.'  Overjoyed  at  my  suc- 
cess, I  flew  home  to  the  Lodge,  Michael's  Grove,  to  tell  my 
Father,  and  to  send  the  information  to  Lady  Bulwer 
Lytton,  but  upon  further  consideration  I  determined  to  go 
myself  to  East  Ham,  thinking  it  better  than  writing,  and 
never  shall  I  forget  the  mixed  pain  and  pleasure  of  my 
visit.  It  was  soon  arranged  that  Lady  Lytton  should  come 
with  her  old  faithful  servant  Byrne  (who  had  been  Miss 
Lytton's  nurse)  to  Town,  and  see  if  she  could  possibly  gain 
access  to  and  help  to  nurse  her  daughter,  under  conditions 
so  unsuited  to  her  position  and  age. 

*''  1  had  soon  observed  from  the  style  of  house  that  it 
was  let  out  in  separate  rooms  and  apartments,  to  people  in 
a  humble  sphere  of  life,  and  Avas  therefore  most  anxious 
that  Lady  Lytton  should  first  come  to  us  ;  but  she  over- 
ruled my  objections,  and  early  next  morning  arrived  at 
Pelham  Terrace,  where  she  engaged  a  room  at  the  top  of 
the  same  house  for  herself  and  Byrne,  and  then  sent  me  a 
letter  requesting  me  to  come  to  her  after  dark.  I  did  so, 
taking  my  own  maid  with  me,  and  on  ascending  the 
wretched  narrow  staircase  I  passed  the  second-floor  back 
room,  which  I  then  heard  was  Miss  Lytton's,  and  was  soon 


Appendix.  445 

received  by  Byrne  and  the  decir  and  basely  wronged  wife 
and  Mother. 

''She  is  insensible,  Kate,'  cried  Lady  Lytton  on  seeing 
me,  '  and  I  am  to  see  her  in  half  an  hour  ;  I  have  bribed 
the  nnrse  and  landlady.'  Then  tears  and  sobs  broke  fortli 
from  the  overcharged  heart,  and  Byrne  had  enough  to  do 
to  calm  her  preparatory  to  the  interview.  When  the  time 
came,  I  followed  Lady  Lytton  downstairs  with  Byrne  to 
the  door  of  the  bedroom,  which  was  open,  impressing  on 
her  the  importance  of  keeping  very  quiet.  I  had  no  need, 
however,  to  do  so  :.  the  pitiful  sight  of  this  young  girl 
without  a  relative  near  her,  lying  in  a  room  which  was 
almost  entirely  taken  up  by  the  bedstead,  which  stood 
nearly  filling  up  the  space  between  the  door  and  the  win- 
dow, was  so  startling,  that  she  remained  for  a  time  speech- 
less, as,  almost  transfixed,  she  gazed  on  the  loved  form  from 
which  she  had  been  so  long  separated  ;  lying  insensible,  her 
features  changed  by  fever,  and  hardly  to  be  recognised  in 
the  darkened  room,  where  only  the  sheen  from  her  golden 
hair  as  it  reflected  the  light  of  the  single  candle  guided  the 
eye  to  the  pillow  and  the  sufferer.  It  was  thus,  while 
Lady  Ijytton  stood  like  a  statue  just  inside  the  room,  that 
a  knock  was  heard  at  the  door,  and  least  she  should  be  dis- 
covered, Byrne  and  I  hurried  her  upstairs.  The  visitors 
were  a  Miss  Greene  (a  nursery  governess  of  Lady  Lytton's) 
and  the  present  Earle  of  Lytton,  a  youth  about  sixteen 
years  of  age,  from  Harrow.  They  came  to  enquire  about 
the  patient,  as  they  were  not  in  the  house.  My  dear  friend 
h;id  thrown  herself  on  her  knees  on  reaching  the  top  room, 
and  buried  her  face  in  the  pillow  of  the  wretched  bed  in 
which  she  was  to  pass  the  night.  No  sobs  now,  only  con- 
vulsive throbbings  of  her  whole  frame,  greatly  alarming 
us  who  were  Vv^atching  her;  but  after  a  time  she  became 
quiet,  and  I  then  took  my  leave,  going  home  with  my  ser- 
vant, and  promising  to  be  there  early  in  the  morning. 


446  Appendix. 

'*By  ten  o'clock  I  was  there  again,  and  found  every- 
thing had  been  discovered  !  Dr.  Rouse  and  Dr.  Marshall 
Hall,  the  other  medical  man  (both  of  them  arc  now  dead 
— Dr.  liouse  soon  after  committed  suicide)  were  com- 
manded by  Sir  Edward  Lytton  to  get  Lady  Lytton  out  of 
tiie  house  on  the  plea  that  her  presence  had  aggravated  ilie 
disorder  (typhoid  fever)  which  we  afterwards  discovered 
by  our  own  medical  attendant  was  advancing  to  its  hist 
stage.  Miss  Lytton  had  been  delirius,  and  had  spoken  of 
her  Mother,  wlio  had  sat  on  the  stairs  outside  of  the  door 
all  night,  sending  to  the  room  cooling  -beverages,  and  any 
things  she  had  with  her  which  might  be  of  service  for  her 
daughter  ;  for  Miss  L}tton's  wardrobe  was  so  scanty  that 
she  actually  died  in  a  night-dress  lent  her  by  the  kind 
nurse,  and  which  was  afterwards  in  my  possession. 

"Dr.  Rouse  knowing  me,  sent  for  me  on  my  arrival  in 
Pelham  Terrace,  and  he  and  Dr.  Marshall  Hall  tried  to 
intimidate  me  into  making  a  promise  to  them  that  I  would 
take  Lady  Lytton  away.  *  I  told  them  I  should  do  what 
Lady  Lytton  wished,  that  she  had  paid  for  her  room  for  a 
week,  and  no  one  could  turn  her  out  but  the  landlady.' 

"  They  declared  that  Miss  Lytton's  life  was  endangered 
by  the  knoivleJge  of  her  mother's  presence  !  a  most  ridicu- 
lous assertion,  as  the  poor  girl  knew  no  one,  being  deliri- 
ous when  not  wholly  unconscious. 

"  Our  interview  ended  by  my  telling  them  I  would 
hear  what  Lady  Lytton  iTerself  said.  Dr.  Rouse  followed 
me  upstairs  immediately,  and  then  Lady  Lytton  threw 
herself  on  her  knees  to  him,  and  implored  him  to  let  her 
stay  to  the  end.  I  had  in  a  life,  then  quite  young,  seen 
many  stage  representations  of  mental  agony,  but  here  was 
the  real  anguish,  and  every  phase  of  it  is  burnt  into  my 
memory.  "  Dr.  Rouse  himself  would  have  given  way,  I 
saw,  but  he  dared  not  ;  all  he  could  do  was  to  offer  his 
carriage  to  take  us  away.     He  retired,  and  then  I  pointed 


Appendix.  447 

out  to  the  poor  Mother  the  risk  she  ran  of  misrepresenta- 
tion that  she  had  caused  the  death  ol  lier  daughter 
through  excitement,  and  further  attempted  to  show  that 
she  would  gain  nothing  by  remaining  ;  but  in  this  I  was 
wrong,  and  I  have  since  deeply  regretted  it  :  she  should 
have  stayed,  and  I  with  her. 

"■  However  I  prevailed,  on  assuring  her  that  I  would  go 
to  Dr.  Eouse  and  obtain  his  promise  to  send  to  my  father's 
house,  or  to  come  after  every  visit  to  his  patient,  that  we 
might  have  the  latest  intelligence  of  her  condition.  I 
must  now  mention  that  the  carriages  of  the  two  doctors 
were  being  driven  up  and  down  the  little  street  while  this 
conference  was  going  on  ;  and  we  had  ascertained  that 
Miss  Greene  lodged  only  two  or  three  doors  further,  where 
the  doctors  were  then  in  consultation  while  I  was  persuad- 
ing Lady  Lytton  to  return  home  with  me.  So  I  followed 
to  the  house,  and  was  admitted  by  Miss  Grreene,  who  with 
two  men  completely  blocked  the  small  passage.  'Are 
the  doctors  here  who  attend  Miss  Lytton  ?'  I  said.  They 
hurriedly  answered  *  yes,' and  made  way  for  me  to  pass. 
I  entered  the  first  room  on  the  ground  floor,  and  there 
sat  Sir  Edward  Bulwer  Lytton,  Dr.  Marshall  Hall,  and  Dr. 
Rouse — the  latter  looking  most  wretched. 

"I  had  had  the  questionable  advantage  of  meeting  Sir 
Edward  Lytton  in  many  distinguished  houses,  the  owners 
of  which  were  good  enough  to  invite  me,  and  of  course  I 
knew  him  ;  but  I  addressed  myself  to  the  medical  men, 
and  told  thetn  '  that  Lady  Lytton  had  consented  to  go  with 
me  to  my  father  Mr.  Planche's  house,  but  that  I  came  to 
hold  Dr.  Rouse  to  his  promise.'  Some  remark,  on  my 
saying  this,  fell  from  this  tender  husband  and  father,  the 
great  novelist,  dramatist,  and  poet ;  and  I  answered  it. 
He  kept  his  seat  while  I  stood,  but  my  reply  intimated  to 
him  tiiat  I  knew  him,  and  it  is  almost  amusing  to  recollect 
that  he  sent  me  an  apology  for  not  having  risen  :  '  he  toas 


44^  Appendix. 

so  distresstd,' — for  I  never  saw  any  one  less  so  ;  he  was 
very  deaf,  and  I  regret  to  say,  think  ho  did  not  hear  what 
I  said,  for  I  had  no  feeling  for  him  bat  of  intense  disgnst, 
and  he  s:i\v  it.  I  returned  trembling  with  anxiety  for  my 
task  before  me — the  removal  of  this  deeply  injured  inno- 
cent woman,  wife,  mother. 

"  But  I  need  not  have  doubted  her  power  over  herself 
(of  which  I  saw  much  more  in  after  days).  God  alone 
knows  tl)e  agony  of  that  Mother's  heart  as  she  walked 
quietly  past  the  closed  door  of  the  room  where  her  poor 
dying  girl  was  so  soon  to  breathe  her  last. — 
•  ''At  ten  o'clock  I  was  obliged  to  accompany  ray  father 
to  a  soiree  at  Mrs.  Milner  Gibson's  (leaving  dear  Lady 
Lytton  in  my  sister's  care).  I  told  them  what  had  happened 
during  the  day.  '  It  was  not  possible,'  people  said  ;  but 
it  was  not  only  possible,  but  true. 

"  Lady  Lytton  sent  an  eminent  fever  physician,  Dr. 
Tweedie,  to  see  Miss  Lytton.  His  first  words  were  '  Too 
late,  too  late.'  He  asked  for  port  wine  ;  there  was  none  in 
the  house,  and  some  was  procured  from  a  tavern  at  the  end 
of  the  street. 

*'0n  the  following  evening,  Saturday,  the  29th  of  April, 
1848,  this  poor  young  lady  died  ;  Dr.  Kouse  himself  com- 
ing to  announce  to  me  the  sad  intelligence.  The  house- 
keeper from  Knebworth  was  sent  up  to  take  possession  of 
the  body,  which  was  conveyed  to  Knebworth  and  buried 
there. 

"  In  the  papers  appeared  the  following  : — 

"  'At  Knebworth  '  (mark  the  veracity  of  our  Colonial 
Secretary  *),  '  Emily  Elizabeth,  the  only  daughter  of  Sir 
Edward  Bulwer  Lytton.' 

"  I  had  the  satisfaction  of  putting  in  the  3Iorning  Post, 
and  also  The  Britannia,  a  Sunday  paper  much  read  in 
those  days,  the  correction  of  this  mistake  : — 

*  Secretarj'of  the  Colonies  1858-9. 


Appendix.  449 

"  'On  Saturday,  the  29th  of  April,  at  a  lodging  in 
Brompton,  of  Typhoid  fever,  Emily  Elizabeth,  the  only 
daughter  of  Sir  Edward  and  Lady  Bulwer  Lytton,  age  20/ 

''  Sir  Edward  Bulwer  Lytton  sent  my  father  a  challenge  ! 
My  father  had  many  grand  qualities,  but  a  passage  of  arms 
was  not  at  all  to  his  taste  (for  lie  fainted  at  the  sight  of 
blood),  so  in  reply  he  simply  threatened  to  bind  him  over 
to  keep  the  peace. 

"\  have  letters  and  papers  to  corroborate  this  account, 
and  passed  the  greater  part  of  my  time  during  three  years, 
until  my  marriage  in  1851,  in  Lady  Lytton's  company. 

"  Seldom  has  it  been  the  fate  of  any  one  to  be  so 
maligned  and  crushed  as  this  woman  ;  it  was  even  said  of 
Lady  Lytton  that  she  did  not  lovelier  children — this  I  most 
emphatically  deny.  I  have  good  reason  to  know  how  she 
loved  her  daughter,  and,  as  to  her  son,  she  scarcely  ever 
spoke  of  him  to  me  without  tears,  in  the  early  days  of  our 
acquaintance. 

"  KATHEKINE  CuKTEIS  WHELA]Sr. 

''September  1883." 

Deposition  of  Mrs.  Eosetta  Beksois' 

(Whose  Maiden  Name  was  Byrne),  Maid  to  Lady  Lytton. 

I,  Eosetta  Benson,  Widow,  whose  maiden  name  was 
Byrne,  and  who  lived  for  some  years  as  Lady's-maid  with 
'J'he  Eight  Honourable  Lady  Lytton — then  Mrs.  Edward 
Lytton  Bulwer,  wheu  her  Ladyship  married — from  1827  to 
1845,  being  prevented  by  the  present  state  of  my  health 
from  going  to  London  to  give  my  evidence  in  the  Divorce 
Court — should  it  be  necessary — Do  hereby  depose  on  Oath 
— before  The  Eevd  John  Batt  Bingham,  Magistrate  Herts, 
that  during  the  whole  of  that  period  I  never  knew  any 
Gentleman  treat  a  wife,  more  especially  such  a  good  and 
irreproachable  wife,  so  hardly  and  so  badly  as  the  present 


450  Appendix. 

Lord  Lytton,  then  Mr.  Edward  Lytton  Bnlwer,  did  her 
Ladyship,  not  only  as  to  cruel  neglect  and  infidelity,  but 
also  as  to  acts  of  brutal  personal  violence,  amongst  others 
on  one  occasion,  when  travelling  in  Italy  in  1833.  One 
night  at  the  Lake  of  Bolsano  he  so  dashed  the  things  about, 
and  at  her  Ladyship,  that  even  Luigi  the  courier,  vowed 
he  would  not  continue  the  journey  with  him.  Again  at 
Naples,  after  having  in  one  of  his  brutal  rages  kicked  and 
bang'd  her  Ladyship  against  the  stone  floor  at  the  Hotel 
Vittoria  till  she  was  black  and  blue,  and  had  to  keep  her 
bed.  A  few  days  after — because  people  began  to  talk  of 
this  at  Naples,  he  made  her  poor  lady  get  up  and  dress 
herself  to  go  to  a  great  dinner  at  Lord  Hertford's. 

After  Ave  got  buck  to  London,  his  temper  continued 
awful  towards  her  Ladyship  ;  for  having  asked  him  for 
money  to  pay  the  House  BiJls  left  unpaid  when  they  went 
abroad ;  so  one  day,  in  July  1834,  at  dinner  at  their  house, 
36  Hertford  Street,  May  Fair,  London,  he  siezed  a  Carving 
Knife,  and  rushed  at  his  wife,  when  she  cried  out,  *'  For 
God's  sake  Edward,  take  care  what  you  are  about  !  AVhen 
he  dropped  the  knife,  and  springing  on  her  like  a  Tiger, 
made  his  teeth  meet  in  her  left  cheek,  until  her  screams 
brought  the  men  servants  back  into  the  Dining  room,  and 
he  has  ever  since  hunted  her  thro'  the  world,  with  spies  and 
bad  women,  and  does  not  allow  her  enough  to  live  upon,  for 
a  Lady  in  her  station. 

As  every  one  knows  of  his  cruelty  in  kidnapping  her 
Ladyship,  and  shutting  her  up  in  a  madhouse  on  the  22"<i 
June  1858 — from  which  the  poor  Lady  was  released,  tiir.)' 
the  public  outcry  it  caused  at  the  end  of  three  weeks: — I 
have  nothing  further  to  add — but  that  a  better,  more  devo- 
ted wife  no  man,  rich  or  poor,  ever  had,  she  was  far  too 
good  a  Wife  for  Lord  Lytton.  Rosetta  Beksojs". 

Witness  : 

Joseph  Huggard,  11  Ann's  Terrace,  Fulham. 
Mary  Ann  Russell,  11  Ann's  Terrace,  Fulham. 


Appendix.  451 

The  above  is  the  declaration  of  Mrs.  Eosetta  Benson, 
before  me  me,  The  Rev<^.  John  Batt  Bingham,  Magistrate 
of  Hertfordshire. 

J.  B.  Bingham,  J.  P.  October  4l^  1867. 
Endorsed  by  Lady  Lytton  : — 

"Byrne  wrote  the  foregoing  deposition  at  her  own 
house  where  she  died,  in  George  Street,  Hemel  Hempstead, 
Hertfordshire,"' 

It  is  characteristic  of  Lady  Lytton  that,  although  her- 
self suffering  from  straitened  means,  she  had  for  several 
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frequent  gifts  suitable  to  her  condition. 


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To-day.  Do. 

Life  in  San  Domingo.  Do. 

Henry  Powers,  Banker.  Do. 
Led  Astray — By  Octave  Feuillet. 

Lava  Fires  — Smith 

The  Darling  of  an  Empire 150 

Confessions  of  Two i  50 

Nina's  Peril — By  Mrs.  Miller....  i  50 
Marguerite's  Journal — For  Girls  i  50 
Orpheus  C.Kerr — Four  vols. in  one. 
Spell-Bound — Alexandre  Dumas. 
Purple  and  Fine  Linen — Fawcett 
Pauline's  Trial — L.  D.  Courtney. 

Tancredi— Dr.  E.  A.  Wood 

Measure  for  Measure — Stanley.. 
Charette — An  American  novel  .  .. 
Fairfax— By  John  Esten  Cooke... 
Hilt  to  Hilt.  Do. 

Out  of  the  Foam.  Do. 

Hammer  and  Rapier.       Do. 

Kenneth — Hy  Sallie  A.  I'.rock 

Heart  Hungry. Mrs. Westmoreland  1  50 
Clifford  Troupe.  Do.  i  50 

Price  of  a  Life — R.  F.  Sturgis...     i  50 

Marston  Hall — L.  Ella  Byrd i  50 

Conquered  — By  a  New  Author...  i  50 
Tales  from  the  Popular  Operas.  1  50 
Edith  Murray — Joanna  Mathews  1  50 
San  Miniato — Mrs. C.V. Hamilton.  1  00 
All  for  Her — A  Tale  of  New  York,  i  50 
L'Assommoir — Zola's  great  novel  i  00 
Vesta  Vane — By  L.  King,  R.  ...  i  50 
Walworth's  Novels — Seven  vols,    i  50 


2  00 
75 
X  50 
I  so 
I  50 
1  50 

I  50 
1  50 
1  50 

I  50 

'  50 

75 


THE  LIBRARY 
UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA 

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Series  9482 


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UE    uoi3uix3-i    JO  UMOJ  am    ui  si  n     --^vnoo 

aijjdiuox    opuEiJQ    31^1  am    30  sJiaq    aqx     2044  0341 

BULli'ER  LYTTOS'S  LETTERS. 

To  vindicate  .ZZ^,  °V''  '' HeteT 
ger  Lady  Lvtton.  her  executrix.  Lou.sa  Devej , 
Lseen  m  to  collect  the  Z.....-/^^^-^^^^ 
?«W/.^/./F^^.  and  the  work  wh.ch  has  I 
,een  for  some  time  familiar  to  the  Engl  sh 
.ablic,  is  now  offered  to  American  readers  (G. 
,V.  Dillingham,  i2mo,  pp.  xx  and  450-  low 
ar  these  letters  vindicate  the  memory  of  Lady 
.ytton  is  a  question;  as  is  usual  :n  mantal 
-rievances.  there  was  probably  blame  on  both 
lides  That  he  was  abo.ninably  selfish,  sensu- 
d  and  brutal  there  can  be  no  doubt ;  that  she 
vas  silly,  sentimental  and  irritatmg  there  .s 
unhappily  little  cause  to  disbeheve^  What 
he  reader  is  chiefly  concerned  wuh     however 

n  this  volume,  is  the  character  of  Edward 
3ulwer,  and  the  portrait  is  too  complete,  too 
borough  in  detail,  too  manifestly  f^'^hfulto 
eave  any  chance  for  an  extenuating  plea.  Ihe 
etters  begin  about  eighteen  months  before  the 
mthor's  marriage  to  Rosina  Wheeler  m  1827, 
vnd  they  continue  with  long  intermediary 
,reaks  to  the  year  1837  when  the  final  separa- 
ion  took  place.  Here  is  a  sample  of  the  ep,s- 
les  written  by  the  author  of  "Pelham  to  n,s 
jetroihed  : — 

And  so  they  dressed  my  poodle  in  white  and  black  ? 
)zoodarlin,-  how  like  a  poodle  1  And  had  oo  oo  s 
.ootiful  ears  curled  nicely,  and  did  oo  not  look  too  pr  tty 
.„d  did  not  all  the  puppy  dogs  run  after  -  ^-^  »^  °; 
vhat  a  darling  00  was?  Ah!  ™« -"'^^  "V'"^'^'""" 
.isses  to  be  distributed  as  follows  :  500.000  for  0°  boot,  ul 
nomb.  Z5°.ooo  toco  right  eye.  .,0.000  to  o^l^f.^^^e, 
,.000.000  to  00  dear  neck,  and  the  rest  to  bed.v.ded 
=;ually  between  00  arms  and  hands  .  •  God  bless  00. 
^y  prettiest  of  darlings,  my  love,  my  beauty,  my  Poodle, 
^hom  I  dote  upon  to  excess-oh  such  excess  . 

Oo  OWN  OWN  Puppy. 

^  little  later  wc  find  him  writing  to  his 
•darhng.  beautiful  poodle."  "Nothing  makes 
me  so  happy  as  to  fancy   that  00  is  ;    nothing 


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